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Most hearing impairments can be identified during Newborn hearing screening (NBHS). A successful NBHS warrants the participation and support of professionals from multiple disciplines. Nurses can be a key member of this team. They can provide information and procedures to help parents perform the NBHS. Also, the nurses may advocate for disability screening in a newborn or paediatric context too. A descriptive cross-sectional survey was done to analyse nurses' knowledge and attitudes on infant hearing loss and Newborn hearing screening in various hospital settings in Nepal. We observed lack of awareness and information about NBHS in nurses, despite knowing it is vital for the child. Since, nurses are key members of medical team, they can help identify high risk babies needing audiological assistance. The lack of knowledge evident in the study should be curtailed so that newborn are referred at their earliest for hearing assessment.

Background: Hearing loss is an important disorder affecting newborns admitted to NICU. A national hearing screening program using otoacoustic emission testing is an essential tool to identify hearing loss early in neonates, enabling early intervention to avoid further challenges of pediatric deafness. On the other hand, a delay of the auditory pathway maturation in preterm babies compared to term newborns has already been suggested in the literature. Taking this information into account, in this paper, we aim to identify the best time to perform NICU infant hearing screening tests. Objectives: We aim to study the clinical factors and neonatal morbidities that may affect neonatal hearing screening results using otoacoustic emission test in order to decrease the false-positive test results that increase parental anxiety and increase the need for subsequent investigations. Methods: This is a prospective cross-sectional study that included 204 infants who were admitted to a tertiary referral hospital NICU unit between September 2017 and May 2018. Both transients evoked otoacoustic emissions (TEOAE), and distortion product otoacoustic emission (DPOAE) screening tests were performed in order to screen hearing loss. Results: Our study included 204 infants, 52.9 % of which were males and 47.1 % females. There were correlations between both hyperbilirubinemia and ventilation ≥ 5 days and the failure rate of the first OAE test results among NICU infants where the P-values were (p=0.0133) and (p=0.0456), respectively. Moreover, 165 babies (80.9 %) passed the first OAE with a mean birth weight of 2759 gram and mean maternal age of 30.6 years, while 39 babies (19.1 %) failed the test with a mean birth weight of 2436 gram and a mean maternal age of 32 years. There was no statistically significant relation between both maternal age and birth weight with failure of the first screening test. Conclusion: Our study suggests a higher failure rate of the first OAE in NICU infants who had hyperbilirubinemia or ventilation ≥ 5 days. Therefore, our recommendation is to postpone the first phase of hearing screening for those infants until the first scheduled vaccine appointment to achieve high compliance to attendance and decrease distress to the family that can be associated with false-negative results of the test.

Objective: To estimate the association between congenital syphilis and neonatal hearing screening failure in the state of Santa Catarina between 2017 and 2019. Methods: This is a cross-sectional, retrospective, analytical study with secondary data of neonates from the state of Santa Catarina born between January 2017 and December 2019. We used logistic regression analysis to estimate the association between the main exposure (congenital syphilis) and the study outcome (failure in the Neonatal Hearing Screening). Results: The study included 21,434 newborns evaluated in a Brazilian hearing health care service. A total of 351 (1.6%) newborns failed the Neonatal Hearing Screening, and 364 (1.7%) had congenital syphilis. In the adjusted analysis, newborns with congenital syphilis were 3.25 times as likely to fail the Neonatal Hearing Screening as neonates without this disease (95% CI: 2.01; 5.26). As for maternal age, the sample had a higher prevalence (53.5%) of mothers aged 20–29 years. Conclusion: There was an association between congenital syphilis and failure in Universal Neonatal Hearing Screening in the sample studied. There is a need for investments in public policies to value and strengthen the hearing screening program in the state to provide early diagnosis and intervention. Level of evidence: 5

Introduction: Hearing impairment, or hearing loss, can be caused by several factors and the implications vary according to the type, degree, cause and age of occurrence. Hearing screening should be a common procedure, allowing the pre-clinical identification and necessary referrals, avoiding the consequences of auditory deprivation. Mobile apps have shown to be a good alternative for hearing assessment. Objective: The objective was to develop an app and assess its performance in identifying hearing loss by comparing it with another validated screening tool. Methods: The application, called Ouviu, was created using audiological knowledge and tools available on the iOS platform. We evaluated 185 people, aged between 6 and 96 years, distributed into 5 age groups, performing audiometry and hearing screening using two tools: HearCheck and the application. Results: The results showed that the sensitivity of the application in identifying hearing loss was approximately 97%, while that of HearCheck was 79%. The positive predictive value of the application showed that the probability of a person being identified with this tool and actually having a hearing loss was 94%, while for HearCheck it was 96%. False negatives, which failed hearing loss identification, were fewer in the app (3%) than in HearCheck (21%). Conclusion: Consequently, the developed application was shown to be effective as a hearing screening tool, surpassing HearCheck in identifying mild hearing loss. In addition to being portable, easy to apply, low cost and rapidly performed, the application has the advantage of assessing environmental noise to perform the exam, as well as the fact that it is not necessary to attach any hardware to the mobile device. Resumo Introdução: O comprometimento da audição, ou perda auditiva, pode ser ocasionado por diversos fatores e as implicações variam de acordo com o tipo, grau, causa e idade de acometimento. A triagem auditiva deveria ser um procedimento usual que possibilitasse a identificação pré-clínica e os encaminhamentos necessários, evitaria as consequências da privação desse sentido. Aplicativos móveis mostram-se uma boa opção. Objetivo: Desenvolver um aplicativo e verificar seu desempenho na identificação de perda auditiva comparado com outro instrumento de rastreio validado. Método: O aplicativo, chamado Ouviu, foi criado com o conhecimento audiológico e as ferramentas disponíveis na plataforma iOS. Avaliamos 185 pessoas, entre 6 e 96 anos, distribuídas em 5 grupos, fizemos audiometria e rastreio auditivo por meio de dois instrumentos: HearCheck e aplicativo. Resultados: Ficou evidenciado que a sensibilidade do aplicativo para identificar perda auditiva foi aproximadamente 97%, enquanto a do HearCheck foi 79%. O valor preditivo positivo do aplicativo mostrou que a probabilidade de uma pessoa ser identificada com esse instrumento e realmente ter perda auditiva foi 94%, o HearCheck foi de 96%. Os falsos negativos, que deixaram de identificar perda auditiva, foram menores no aplicativo (3%) que no HearCheck (21%). Conclusão: O aplicativo desenvolvido mostrou-se eficaz como uma ferramenta de rastreio auditivo. É melhor do que HearCheck na identificação de perda auditiva leve. Além de ser portátil, de fácil aplicação, baixo custo e rápida execução, o aplicativo tem a vantagem de avaliar o ruído ambiental para fazer o exame e também a não necessidade de quaisquer hardwares para acoplar ao dispositivo móvel.

Background: Hearing loss is highly prevalent in older adults, particularly among those living with dementia and residing in long-term care homes (LTCHs). Sensory declines can have deleterious effects on functioning and contribute to frailty, but the hearing needs of residents are often unrecognized or unaddressed. Objective: To identify valid and reliable screening measures that are effective for the identification of hearing loss and are suitable for use by nursing staff providing care to residents with dementia in LTCHs. Methods: Electronic databases (Embase, Medline, PsycINFO, CENTRAL, and CINAHL) were searched using comprehensive search strategies, and a stepwise approach based on Arksey & O’Malley’s scoping review and appraisal process was followed. Results: There were 193 scientific papers included in the review. Pure-tone audiometry was the most frequently reported measure to test hearing in older adults living with dementia. However, measures including self- or other-reports and questionnaires, review of medical records, otoscopy, and the whisper test were found to be most suitable for use by nurses working with older adults living with dementia in LTCHs. Conclusion: Although frequently used, the suitability of pure-tone audiometry for use by nursing staff in LTCHs is limited, as standardized audiometry presents challenges for many residents, and specific training is needed to successfully adapt test administration procedures and interpret results. The whisper test was considered to be more suitable for use by staff in LTCH; however, it yields a limited characterization of hearing loss. There remains an urgent need to develop new approaches to screen hearing in LTCHs.

El diagnóstico precoz de la hipoacusia debe llevarse acabo de forma temprana ante las implicaciones que la falta de estimulación auditiva tiene sobre el desarrollo del lenguaje y el habla. Hasta los seis meses las audiometrías conductuales no resultan fiables por lo que a estas edades los recién nacidos son evaluados mediante las Emisiones Otoacústicas (EOAE) y los Potenciales Evocados del Tronco Cerebral (PETC). Sin embargo, estas técnicas no son capaces de derivar información selectiva de la partición coclear. Los Potenciales Evocados Auditivos Continuos (PEAC) son una respuesta cerebral evocada periódica en el tiempo cuya frecuencia permanece constante en amplitud y fase. Con propósitos audiométricos los PEAC tiene varias ventajas sobre los PEATC. Primero a través de procedimientos estadísticos se determina la presencia de respuesta aumentando la fiabilidad y validez de la técnica. Segundo, los PEAC permiten el empleo de tonos específicos en frecuencia. Tercero, los PEAC permiten derivar una información específica en frecuencia de la partición coclear. En este artículo se revisan los principios y fundamentos de esta técnica electrofisiológica.

Aim To assess the degree to which timely audiological assessment of congenital hearing loss is achieved at our institution - Perth Children's Hospital, Western Australia, and to review cases which breached this timeframe in order to address barriers to timely assessment. The benchmark used to determine timely assessment is that set out by The Joint Committee on Infant Hearing (JCIH) in which diagnostic audiological testing occurs by three months of age for those who do not pass newborn hearing screening. Methods A retrospective chart review of infants who underwent diagnostic auditory assessment at Perth Children's Hospital between 2016-2019. A total of 151 children were identified as meeting the inclusion criteria and their medical files were reviewed. Time to first dABR was the time point for whether testing was achieved within the 3 month timeframe. Results Of the 151 children who underwent dABR assessments, 1 was identified as having breached the 90 day time limit (tested on day 91) for which no valid reason for delay could be identified. The timely delivery of dABR assessments in 99.3% of cases within this cohort compares favourably with the literature. Conclusions Conclusion Timely diagnostic audiological assessment is achievable for children with congenital hearing loss. The reasons for patients breaching this timeframe are explored in the paper along with factors which may help avoid delays.

We have clarified the role of Universal Neonatal Hearing Screening (UNHS) for both early diagnosis and rapid treatment in order to improve the prognosis of the deaf child and reduce patient management costs. Although in Sicily UNHS has been progressively implemented, there is scarce data in the literature on this matter. Therefore, the main objective was to collect in the year 2018 the following data: number of newborns screened for hearing loss, number of infants "referred" to transiently evoked otoacoustic emissions (TEOAE), number of infants with pathologic auditory brainstem response (ABR) and number of infants affected by permanent hearing loss.UNHS monitoring was conducted through the collection of data through a questionnaire, which was analysed evaluating the effectiveness and adherence to the screening program prepared by the Department for Health Activities and the Epidemiological Observatory (DASOE).In 2018, there were 40,243 newborns in Sicily. A total of 37,562 newborns were screened (93.3%). There were 1,328 "referred" infants with TEOAE (3.5%). On the 2The monitoring of the UNHS in Sicily has allowed obtaining the data of individual centres, absent in the literature to date, to verify the effectiveness of the screening, according to JCIH criteria, to highlight some criticalities and, finally, to propose possible solutions.Screening uditivo neonatale universale nella regione Sicilia nel 2018.Abbiamo chiarito il ruolo dello screening uditivo neonatale universale (UNHS) sia come diagnosi precoce che come trattamento rapido al fine di migliorare la prognosi del bambino sordo e ridurre i costi di gestione del paziente. Anche se in Sicilia l’UNHS è stato progressivamente attuato, vi sono scarsi dati nella letteratura in materia. Pertanto, l’obiettivo principale è stato quello di raccogliere nell’anno 2018 i seguenti dati: numero di neonati sottoposti a screening per la perdita dell’udito, numero di neonati risultati “refer” alle TEOAE, numero di lattanti con ABR patologico e numero di lattanti affetti da perdita permanente dell’udito.Il monitoraggio del UNHS è stato condotto attraverso la raccolta dei dati forniti dal questionario, che valuta l’efficacia dello screening e l’aderenza alle fasi successive.Nel 2018, i nati in Sicilia sono stati 40.243. Sono stati sottoposti a screening 37.562 neonati, pari al 93,3%. Sono risultati “refer” con le TEOAE 1.328 neonati (pari al 3,5%). Al 2° livello, i neonati “refer” esaminati sono stati 1.080 su 1.328 attesi (dispersi 248 neonati refer, pari al 18,6%). I neonati “refer” confermati con le TEOAE sono stati 113 su 1.080, mentre i neonati “refer” confermati con ABR sono stati 71. Al 3° livello, i bambini esaminati sono stati 67 su 71 previsti: ventotto bambini soffrivano di perdita monolaterale dell’udito (13 lieve, 13 moderata, 1 grave e 1 profonda) e trentanove soffrivano di perdita bilaterale dell’udito (1 lieve, 19 moderata, 13 grave e 7 profonda). Escludendo 7 bambini provenienti dalla NICU, i bambini con perdita dell’udito sono stati 60 su 37.562 (pari all’1,5‰).Il monitoraggio dell’UNHS in Sicilia ha permesso di ottenere i dati dei singoli centri, dati assenti nella letteratura, di verificare l’efficacia dello screening, secondo criteri JCIH, di evidenziare alcune criticità e, infine, di proporre possibili soluzioni.

Objective To evaluate the cochlear implant (CI) assessment pathway for children referred through the newborn hearing screening programme (NHSP) and identify potential reasons for delay in CI surgery at a large UK centre. Methods Retrospective analysis of electronic notes of children referred through NHSP from 2016 to 2019. Key points in the assessment pathway from referral to switch-on were assessed. Results Of the 46 referrals, 44 went on to have CI surgery. Median age at CI surgery was 15 months (interquartile range (IQR) 13 to 17 months). Only 5% of referrals were implanted before the age of 12 months. Delayed referral and the presence of otitis media with effusion (OME) were associated with delayed implantation. The median period of monitoring for OME was 48 days (IQR 20 to 93 days), with a natural resolution rate of only 11%. The median time from surgery to switch-on was 5 weeks (IQR 4.1 to 5.4 weeks). Conclusion Achieving implantation prior to the age of 12 months for NHSP referrals can be challenging for a variety of reasons. The delays in the system and the steps that our implant programme has taken to address these will be highlighted.

Objectives to discuss the issues of inter-disciplinary cooperation for improvement the pediatric audiological care using modern technologies for hearing restoration. Material and methods. An epidemiological study of hearing impairments in 3098 children registered in the Center of Pediatric Audiology (St. Petersburg) and analysis of the city pediatric audiological services were carried out. Results. The introduction of the universal newborn hearing screening helped to diagnose hearing loss in children under 1 year of age in 47% of cases. Before the screening implementation, it was diagnosed in 22% of cases. The hearing screening results testify that 26% of children meet modern requirements of early diagnosis (under 3 months) of congenital hearing loss. 54% of children registered in the Audiology Center are using hearing aids or cochlear implants. The mean age of initial amplification is 3 years 8 months. 5.4% of children got amplification under 6 months of age, 20% of children - under 1 year and 58% - under 3 years. The mean interval between diagnosis and amplification was 15.7 months, only 24% of children got amplification within 3 months after being diagnosed. A system of family-centered medical, psychological and pedagogical rehabilitation of children with hearing impairments was developed at the Center of Pediatric Audiology.

Objectives. Newborn hearing screening (NHS) plays a critical role in early identification of hearing loss and subsequent early habilitation. Active parental involvement influences the success of NHS, particularly the initial NHS and follow-up. The current study reports the results of an NHS program in a cohort of babies born in a tertiary care hospital in Sharjah, United Arab Emirates (UAE). Further, it explores a two-stage NHS model to reduce false responses, thereby alleviating parental anxiety. Methods. Retrospective observational study was conducted for a period of five years from January 2017 to December 2020. NHS was done as a two-stage model. All the healthy newborn babies were screened using Automated Auditory Brainstem Response (AABR) by trained audiology professionals. Babies who failed the first NHS were followed up after two weeks. Further, babies that failed the follow-up NHS were sent for diagnostic hearing evaluation and intervention as necessary. Results. A total of 1821 newborn babies were screened during the study period. Eighty-one percent of babies passed the initial NHS. Four hundred and twenty-three (23.22%) babies were referred on the first NHS and were followed up after 2 weeks. Among these babies, 7.03% (24) failed second NHS. Nine (37.50%) of the 24 babies were confirmed to have hearing loss in both ears. The incidence of hearing loss in our cohort was 4.94 per 1000. Confirmed hearing loss was statistically higher in boys than girls ( p < 0.05 ) Conclusion. Current study was an attempt to report the emerging NHS data as part of the implementation of an NHS program. The study findings emphasize the need for a two-stage model of NHS to rule out false responses.

Hearing loss is a common birth problem that can affect a babys ability to develop speech, language and social skills in lack of comprehensive early intervention. Early intervention occurring within the first 6 months has higher effectiveness for hearing impaired children. The introduction of universal newborn hearing screening programs allowed to identify hearing loss in the first months of life. That determines the need of immediate comprehensive early intervention for children identified with hearing loss. The main approaches of such intervention have been described in detail in the literature. However there are not well-developed, evidence-based, well-documented recommendations for family-centred early intervention for children who are deaf or hard of hearing. Similar problems are noted in many countries, that is why in 2012, within the framework of an international conference, specialists and parents of deaf and hard of hearing children developed a document (international consensus statement). The experts arrived at consensus on 10 principles guiding family-centred early intervention. These principles are presented in the article as well as a brief description of their implementation in various countries. The consensus statement has become an important document which is intended to provide a framework for professionals over the world. Knowledge of these principles allows specialists to apply evidence-based approaches working with children who are deaf of hard of hearing.

Undiagnosed hearing deficits hamper a child’s ability to learn. Hearing screening in school aged children helps detect educationally significant hearing loss and prevents negative impacts on academic achievement. The main purpose of this study was to improve early detection and assess the incidence of hearing disorders in first-graders from rural areas and small towns in the Małopolskie Voivodeship of Poland. There were 5029 children aged 6–7 years. Hearing thresholds were measured over the frequency range 0.5–8 kHz. A result was considered positive (abnormal) if the hearing threshold was worse than 20 dB HL at one or more frequencies. The prevalence of hearing loss was estimated in terms of four-frequency hearing loss, high-frequency hearing loss, and low-frequency hearing loss. Parents filled in a brief audiological questionnaire. The analysis was performed using IBM SPSS Statistics, version 24. Of all the children, 20.5% returned a positive result and were referred for further audiological diagnoses. The estimated prevalence of hearing loss was 11.6%, made up of 6.5% with FFHL, 7.6% with HFHL, and 8.2% with LFHL. This study showed that large numbers of children in the district had hearing problems. Adoption of hearing screening in primary schools is recommended as a routine procedure within preventive pediatric health care.

To identify the characteristics of risk factors for hearing loss in newborns and their relation to hearing screening results using otoacoustic emissions (OAEs).This research is a retrospective cros...

Introduction: Congenital deafness is a hearing loss that occurs at birth. Congenital deafness in neonates can be caused by risk factors during pregnancy and during the birth process. The tests carried out for hearing screening for neonates in hospital up to 1 month old are Otoaccoustic Emission (OAE) and Auditory Brainstem Response (ABR) examinations. Objective: Determining the relationship between family history of deafness, syndromes associated with sensorineural hearing loss, TORCH infection and prenatal syphilis, use of ototoxic drugs during pregnancy, prematurity, low birth weight, asphyxia, and hyperbilirubinemia with the incidence of congenital deafness in children Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted based on medical record datas from children who underwent OAE and ABR examinations at Dr. Mohammad Hoesin Palembang hospital from January 2019 to February 2021. Results: From the 349 children, 180 (51.6%) had bilateral OAE and ABR pass results, 161 (46.1%) had bilateral referrals and 8 (2.3%) children received unilateral refer results. From 122 children with risk factors, 38 (31.1%) children with bilateral passes, 81 (66.4%) children with bilateral referrals and 3 (2.5 %) children with unilateral refer. From 227 children without risk factors, 142 (62.6 %) children with a bilateral pass, 80 (35.2 %) children with bilateral referrals and 5 (2.2%) children with unilateral refer. The most common risk factor was LBW of 41 (11.7%) children. Chi square test and logistic regression analysis results showed a significant relationship between ototoxic drugs during pregnancy and congenital deafness (p = 0.001) with referral results, the value of Odd Ratio (OR) 9.651. Conclusions: There is a significant relationship between risk factors for ototoxic drugs during pregnancy, TORCH and syphilis infection during pregnancy, asphyxia, congenital syndrome, LBWand hyperbilirubinemia with congenital deafness.

Clinic closures across the United States in response to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic meant that many audiology services were reduced to phone calls, video visits, and modified services (e.g., curbside, mail-ins, drop offs). Audiologists and other providers needed a way to manage hearing- and ear-related complaints via telehealth. A simple pure tone air conduction threshold test performed at home was used to determine which patients needed to come into the clinic for an in-person appointment. This case will review a 56-year-old male who was being treated for an idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss prior to clinic closure. He had on file a comprehensive audiogram at first onset of symptoms and was treated with oral steroids. Virtual hearing testing was then utilized for a variety of other patients from teenagers to adults to triage hearing- and ear-related complaints while clinics were closed for in-person visits.

Background: In many countries, neonatal hearing screening programs (NHS) have been available for many years, however, because of the presence of hearing loss at late onset, early hearing detection programs (EHDP) have been implemented. The aim of this study was to evaluate all cases of infantile hearing loss under the care of two different provinces of a regional health service since the introduction of NHS. Methods: Clinical data (the presence of audiological risk factors, age at which children are placed under the care of health service, entity of hearing loss, treatment, and exposure to bilingualism) were retrospectively collected during the period from 1 January 2012 to 31 December 2018, starting from the IT management system used in all of the regional neuropsychiatric services. Results: In total, 124 children were included—116 cases failed the screening, 1 case had an untraceable result, and 7 cases (5.6%) had hearing screening that passed. Most of the children were placed under the care of a neuropsychiatric infantile and adolescence (NPIA) service within the first year of life. The main differences across the two provinces concerned the percentages of audiological risk factors and the number of unilateral hearing loss cases. Conclusion: In order to plan and manage hearing rehabilitation programs for children in the best way, it is very important to know the local clinical-epidemiological features of the population.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to evaluate the results of neonatal hearing screening in our hospital with the help of literature and to question and reveal the risk factors to gain healthy individuals and to raise awareness for all health workers and the public who are interested in this subject. METHODS: A total of 16,388 newborn infants were evaluated between October 2009 and January 2018. All newborns were screened with transient evoked otoacoustic emissions (TEOAEs) test. Risk factors were investigated. The test repetition and auditory brainstem response (ABR) measurements were performed on newborns who could not pass the TEOAE test and the newborns in the risky group after 15 days. RESULTS: A total of 116 newborns (0.7%) were suspected to have hearing loss. Twenty-seven newborns (0.16%) were found to be in intensive care unit. Twelve newborns (0.07%) had permanent hearing loss. Then, in order: 9 newborns (0.05%) had received phototherapy and 7 newborns (0.04%) were born to consanguineous marriages. In addition, 3 newborns (0.02%) had a low birth weight and 1 newborn (0.006%) had a history of fever. CONCLUSION: Screening tests should be performed in all newborns for early detection of hearing loss. Even though frequency of hearing loss is higher in newborns with risk factors, the treatment should be started within 6 months, the latest, and newborns should be referred for rehabilitation and training.

With the introduction of newborn hearing screening, children with different degrees of hearing loss can receive hearing aids and cochlear implants in the early months after birth, which is also the case in the Netherlands and in Flanders, the Dutch speaking part of Belgium.This has intensified the need for a validated questionnaire in the Dutch language to assess the speech development of children under the age of two. The LittlEARS Early Speech Production Questionnaire® (LEESPQ®), which was originally developed and validated in German language, was translated and validated into the Dutch language. Questionnaires of 355 normal hearing children were analysed.Total score was highly correlated with age (The Dutch LittlEARS Early Speech Production Questionnaire®, was found to be a reliable and valid tool to assess and monitor the early speech and language production skills in children up to 18 months of age.

The prevalence of permanent childhood hearing impairment (PCHI) in infants admitted to a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) is higher than that in the general population. Our study objective was to identify risk factors associated with PCHI in infants who required admission to the NICU for more than 48 h. We performed a case–control study, including infants of all gestational ages who were admitted to NICU for more than 48 h and who underwent newborn hearing screening between 2005 and 2019. Infants admitted to NICU and diagnosed with PCHI by formal audiology were classified as “cases”. The “controls” were infants who were admitted to NICU and did not have PCHI. Cases and controls (1:4) were matched based on their birth gestation, birthing place, and treating NICU. The prevalence of PCHI in infants admitted to NICU was 6.3% as compared with our general population prevalence of 0.25%. There were 77 cases and 269 controls during the study period. The median age at diagnosis of PCHI in these infants was 132 days (interquartile range 75.5–518.5). Using regression analysis, “any ventilation episodes”, presence of seizures, and major congenital anomalies were significantly associated with PCHI in infants of all gestational ages. There were higher prevalence of PCHI in preterms (

Introduction : Hearing impairment in children happened in 6 per 1000 newborn in developing country. The etiology of most of those case is unknown as stated by WHO that 60% of children hearing loss caused by genetics. Aim : This condition could lead to delayed speech in children. Method : A-6-years-old children referred to ENT department with delayed speech and bilateral profound sensorineural hearing loss to get a choclear implant. Result : Her condition suspected to be caused by rubella infection during pregnancy. She was already using hearing aid occasionaly and her mother complain that she still couldn’t hear effectively. The comprehensive management of infant with congenital hearing loss could be diagnosed early by applying hearing screening on all newborns at 1 month of age based on EHDI recommendation. This case represents the society low awareness and diagnostic tools limitation of congenital hearing loss prevention in Indonesia. Therefore, we suggest newborn hearing screening on all high-risked babies based on the risk factor stratification. Habilitation strategy for this patient includes auditory-verbal therapy. In order to maximize the benefit, parents are required to give maximum contribution to each therapy session. The therapy compliance becomes the important parameter in outcome optimization. Early diagnosis and intervention is the key to the management of congenital hearing loss. The EHDI programs provide recommended timeline for newborn hearing screenings, diagnostic examinations, and early interventions. The treatment consists of conventional hearing aid and cochlear implantation, combined with speech and language therapy in an appropriate educational environment, to promote development of communication and educational achievements

As research indicates that nurses are one of the core medical professionals who play a key role in the ICU as they can identify high risk babies who need audiological intervention, provided they should have adequate knowledge available in relation to different facts about pediatric hearing loss. To provide appropriate information to the nurses, audiologists should have basic layout regarding the status of the nurses in respect to the knowledge and attitude-related pediatric hearing loss and significant audiological management. The present research is being conducted to assess the knowledge and attitude of issues in pediatric hearing loss among nurses across various range of hospital set up in northern India. A questionnaire-based study (online survey) of 22 questions was designed and adopted from similar studies to assess the knowledge and attitude among nurses regarding hearing impairment among pediatric population. A total of 115 nurses from primary nursing care, corporate and government hospitals participated in the present study. The outcome of the present study revealed poor knowledge and attitude towards hearing impairment of infants among nurses across north India. Henceforth, there is an urgent need to educate these professionals as prevention is better than cure. Keywords: Newborn hearing screening, Nurses, India.

Introduction: neonatal hearing screening aims the early identification of hearing loss. Despite the existence of Laws regarding it, there are still several cases of notable delays in the access of hearing loss services for diagnosis and intervention. Objective: describe the role of neonatal hearing screening in the process of diagnosis and hearing rehabilitation of zero to seven years old children attended in an Ambulatorial Service of Hearing Health on the North Coast of Santa Catarina.. Methodology: use of a questionnaire with 30 parents or legal responsible for children with hearing loss, using descriptive and inferential statistic as method of analysis. Findings: considering the 30 children, 86,66% underwent neonatal hearing screening, from which 96,15% had the first test done and 34,62% had the retest done during their first month of life; 15,38% had a diagnosis until they were three months old and 6,66% the intervention before becoming 6 months old. 16,66% of monitoring and intervention were identified regarding basic care, reinforcing the importance of hearing screening as a way of tracking and identification. Conclusion: the results indicate that the accomplishment of neonatal hearing screening has an important role for the access of an early hearing loss diagnosis, although the ideal ages for the diagnosis and for intervention are fall short from the expected. The importance of basic care capacitation is emphasized, in order to have efficient monitoring and support for children with risk or confirmed hearing loss.

The use of simulation in audiology (AUD) and speech-language pathology (SLP) fields is less than its use in other health professions. This study aimed to examine the effect of the use of simulation...

To explore the trends in actions and factors influencing families of children with hearing loss, regarding early treatment following the implementation of a newborn hearing screening (NHS) in Taiwan.A retrospective study was conducted by extracting data from the treatment histories of families with children who had hearing loss and who were contacted and assessed by the non-profit organisation (NPO). Children born between 2012 and 2018 were included. The time lapse between initial NHS and early treatment sought by each family was documented and the factors predicting the timing of those actions were identified.Data of 2095 families of children with hearing loss and who received treatment from an NPO for the annual birth cohort of 2012 through 2018 were included.The median age at treatments initiation improved through the years. Parental educational level and the child's degree of hearing loss were significant indicators of the child's initial age at treatment intervention, age when hearing aids were fitted, and days taken to contact the organisation.The NHS in Taiwan promoted earlier treatment for children with hearing loss. Furthermore, patient instructions and education may be important to enable parents to take actions for early intervention.

Background The purpose of this preliminary study was to explore one potential underlying factor that may contribute to poor reading outcomes: minimal hearing loss. Additionally, we compared decoding and comprehension deficits in students who passed or failed the hearing screening. Method Forty-three school-age students completed a hearing screening and a literacy assessment. Results Fifty-four percent of children with reading impairments failed the hearing screening, compared to only 21% of children with typical reading. Additionally, students who failed the hearing screening were more likely to exhibit decoding deficits; comprehension skills between the hearing screening groups did not differ. Conclusions Thus, children with reading impairments are more likely to fail hearing screenings than children with typical reading, and the deficits of those who fail hearing screenings appear to center on decoding rather than comprehension skills. Supplemental Material https://doi.org/10.23641/asha.12818252

Hearing loss is one of the most common congenital defects in infancy; it increases speech and language delays and adversely affects academic achievement and socialemotional development. The risk of hearing loss in premature infants is higher than that in normal newborns, and because of the fragility of the auditory nervous system, it is more vulnerable to different risk factors. The hearing screening guidelines in current use were proposed by the American Academy of Pediatrics and updated in 2007, but there are no uniform guidelines for hearing screening in preterm infants. This review focuses on the risk factors related to hearing loss in premature infants, hearing screening strategies, and reasons for failure. The aim is to provide a more comprehensive understanding of hearing development in preterm infants to achieve early detection and early intervention. At the same time, attention should be paid to delayed auditory maturation in preterm infants to avoid excessive intervention. KEY POINTS: · Hearing loss is very common in infancy, especially in premature infants.. · Genetic factors, infection, hyperbilirubinemia, drugs, and noise are the main causes.. · We should pay attention to the delayed hearing maturity of premature infants and avoid excessive intervention..

Purpose The aim of this study was to develop and evaluate a novel, automated speech-in-noise test viable for widespread in situ and remote screening. Method Vowel–consonant–vowel sounds in a multiple-choice consonant discrimination task were used. Recordings from a professional male native English speaker were used. A novel adaptive staircase procedure was developed, based on the estimated intelligibility of stimuli rather than on theoretical binomial models. Test performance was assessed in a population of 26 young adults (YAs) with normal hearing and in 72 unscreened adults (UAs), including native and nonnative English listeners. Results The proposed test provided accurate estimates of the speech recognition threshold (SRT) compared to a conventional adaptive procedure. Consistent outcomes were observed in YAs in test/retest and in controlled/uncontrolled conditions and in UAs in native and nonnative listeners. The SRT increased with increasing age, hearing loss, and self-reported hearing handicap in UAs. Test duration was similar in YAs and UAs irrespective of age and hearing loss. The test–retest repeatability of SRTs was high (Pearson correlation coefficient = .84), and the pass/fail outcomes of the test were reliable in repeated measures (Cohen's κ = .8). The test was accurate in identifying ears with pure-tone thresholds > 25 dB HL (accuracy = 0.82). Conclusion This study demonstrated the viability of the proposed test in subjects of varying language in terms of accuracy, reliability, and short test time. Further research is needed to validate the test in a larger population across a wider range of languages and hearing loss and to identify optimal classification criteria for screening purposes.

To determine when infants in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) have the first hearing screen performed, and thus inform targeted testing for cytomegalovirus (CMV)-related hearing loss. Retrospective review of electronic health records of infants admitted to a Level 4 outborn NICU and had a first hearing screen performed from 8/2016–8/2018. Among 1498 infants, 546 (36%) had a first hearing screen performed at age >21 days when a positive CMV PCR test cannot distinguish congenital from postnatal CMV acquisition. While most infants tested at >21 days of age were

The high prevalence of hearing loss in children determines the need for reliable methods for the timely detection and diagnosis of hearing impairment at any age, starting from a birth. Otoacoustic emissions are widely used in hearing screening and audiological assessment as an objective tool for cochlear status evaluation. Over the past 30 years, their use in routine audiological assessments has increased significantly. Understanding the subtle processes that occur in the cochlea during the transmission of acoustic stimuli which generate otoacoustic emissions as well as knowledge about the registration parameters, otoacoustic emissions characteristics, otoacoustic emissions advantages and constraints are important for results analysis. Contemporary understanding of the occurrence of auditory sensations as well as the description of various types of otoacoustic emissions used in routine clinical practice (transient otoacoustic emissions and distorting product otoacoustic emissions) are presented in the review. The features of otoacoustic emissions using in pediatric practice are described: in newborns hearing screening, including the peculiarities of applying of this test for infants having had got their treatment in the intensive care units. Otoacoustic emissions significance for hearing diagnosis and as well as for ototoxicity monitoring is shown. Reliability, non-invasiveness, objectivity, simplicity of the otoacoustic emissions testing has done it one of the main methods both in hearing screening and diagnostics for children on any age.

Introduction: Upon hearing that the “little” patient has trouble with hearing, we are mostly interested in the level of his hearing threshold. When the child is in the first year of life, results can only be achieved by means of ABR test. Subsequent control tests, especially in children from the hearing loss risk groups selected in this study, show that the obtained outcomes are subject to fluctuations. Their fluctuating nature is manifested by the instability of wave V threshold in subsequent diagnostic periods. Such variability often delays the implementation of the appropriate proceeding. Knowledge of the dissimilarity of behavior of the wave V threshold occurring in individual groups at risk of hearing loss allows for the correct interpretation of the obtained results, and thus, effective therapeutic measures. Aim: The aim of the paper is to analyze the stability of wave V threshold during the first year of life in children from selected risk groups for congenital hearing disorders. Material and methods: From the patient population of 2,114 individuals examined in 2015–2016 at a reference center participating in the Universal Neonatal Hearing Screening Program in 2015–2016, the results of 250 children were subjected to retrospective analysis. Furthermore, 4 groups of little patients were formed (children with Down syndrome; children with other diseases or damage to the nervous system; children with cleft palate or cleft lip and cleft palate; children with congenital cytomegaly) in whom diagnostic practice revealed variable results of the wave V threshold. We analyzed the results of tests obtained during the first year of the child’s life divided into 4 diagnostic periods. Results: The highest percentage of instability in the established threshold of wave V between individual diagnostic periods occurred in the group of children with cleft palate or cleft lip and cleft palate. In the group of children with Down syndrome, it was observed that the instability of the ABR test results decreased over time. In the group of children with other diseases or damage of the nervous system, the highest percentage of the lack of stable ABR wave V thresholds was observed between the 1st and 2nd as well the 1st and 4th diagnostic periods. On the other hand, in the group of children with congenital CMV, there was a relatively low percentage of instability of results. Conclusions: (1) Although the ABR test is a diagnostic standard, in particular groups of patients the study is burdened with high variability of measurement results in subsequent diagnostic periods. Such a group of patients are children with cleft palate or cleft lip and cleft palate; therefore, it must receive particular attention in treatment planning; (2) in selected groups at risk of hearing loss, due to the high percentage of children with hearing impairment (70%), the validity of performing newborn hearing screening tests was confirmed.

Objectives This study examines the unique factors that influence loss to follow-up after newborn hearing screening for patients at a Massachusetts urban safety-net hospital. We seek to characterize our patient population, investigate correlations between patient factors and rates of follow-up, and understand gaps in care. Design A retrospective chart review was conducted of patients born at an urban safety-net hospital from January 2015 through May 2018 who did not pass the newborn hearing screening in one or both ears. A total of 197 infants were included in our study. Outcomes of interest included rates and latency of follow-up appointments, infant demographics (sex, race, birth weight, risk factors for hearing loss), and maternal factors (age, marital status, smoking status, number of children). Results From January 2015 through May 2018, 17% (n = 34) of infants were lost to follow-up. Of those who attended an initial audiology evaluation, the median time between screening and appointment was 29 days. Newborns were 3.5 times at risk of being lost to follow-up if their mothers smoked during pregnancy compared to those whose mothers did not smoke. Further, newborns with multiple siblings in the home were less likely to utilize any audiological services. High-risk infants, such as those with an extended stay in the neonatal intensive care unit, were found to have higher rates of loss to follow-up. Conclusions Our results indicate that patients at urban safety-net hospitals require increased support to decrease rates of loss to follow-up. In particular, strategies to aid mothers who smoke, have multiple children, or have high-risk infants can address gaps in care for newborns after hearing screening.

Hearing loss is the most common neurosensory deficit. It results from a variety of heritable and acquired causes and is linked to multiple deleterious effects on a child's development that can be ameliorated by prompt identification and individualized therapies. Diagnosing hearing loss in newborns is challenging, especially in mild or progressive cases, and its management requires a multidisciplinary team of healthcare providers comprising audiologists, pediatricians, otolaryngologists, and genetic counselors. While physiologic newborn hearing screening has resulted in earlier diagnosis of hearing loss than ever before, a growing body of knowledge supports the concurrent implementation of genetic and cytomegalovirus testing to offset the limitations inherent to a singular screening modality. In this review, we discuss the contemporary role of screening for hearing loss in newborns as well as future directions in its diagnosis and treatment.

Objective: To compare the application time of the Automated Auditory Brainstem Response (A-ABR) between the click and CE-Chirp® stimuli. Methods: Forty-six newborns were evaluated without risk indicators for hearing loss and presenting transient evoked otoacoustic emissions (TEOAE). The A-ABR was performed with Interacoustics® Titan equipment in a hospital, with the click and CE-Chirp® stimuli at the same time. Descriptive statistical analyses and inferential statistics analyses (Student's t-test calculation for mean comparisons among independent samples) were used for the variables age, gender, examination time, laterality and test stimulus used. Results: Of the 46 neonates in the sample, 23 were male and 23 female. The mean age of the sample was 23.1 days. The mean procedure time using the Click stimulus was 85.9 seconds for the right ear and 86.1 seconds for the left ear, whereas for the use of the CE-Chirp® stimulus the results obtained for the right and left ear were28.4 seconds and 27.9 seconds, respectively. There was a statistically significant difference between the mean times obtained through the CE-Chirp® and Click stimuli for both ears (p=0.000). There was no statistically significant difference in the comparison between the right and left ears or between females and males. Conclusion: It was found that the mean duration of the A-ABR procedure using the CE- Chirp® stimulus is three times lower than with the Click stimulus.

Purpose The objective of the study was to identify subjects presenting hearing deficits, specifically age-related hearing losses (ARHL), via objective assessment methodologies. Materials and methods Initially, 259 subjects (165 men, 94 women) were enrolled in the study. After the application of inclusion criteria, the final number was reduced to 88 subjects (49.8 ± 19.1 ys) subdivided into 64 normal and 83 ARHL cases. The subjects were assessed with traditional audiometry tests and with transiently evoked otoacoustic emissions (TEOAEs). Since each ear has its own acoustic signature, the TEOAE analyses were conducted in terms of ears and not subjects. The TEOAE data were processed by traditional and recurrence quantification analyses, leading to the estimation of the WWR (whole waveform reproducibility) and the new RAD2D (2-dimensional radius) parameters. A plot of WWR vs RAD2D was used to optimize the classification of the cases presenting ARHL. Results By using a WWR value of 70% as a classifier, the sensitivity of TEOAEs was estimated as 75.9% and the specificity as 89.1%. By using the RAD2D parameter (with a cut-off value of 1.78), a sensitivity value of 80.7% and a specificity value of 71.9% were obtained. When both parameters were used, a sensitivity value of 85.5% and a specificity value of 92.2% were estimated. In the latter classification paradigm, the number of false negatives decreased from 20 to 12 out of 83 ears (14%). Conclusion In adult hearing screening assessments, the proposed method optimizes the identification of subjects with a hearing impairment correlated to the presence of age-related hearing loss.

Newborn hearing screening is an effective strategy for early identification of hearing loss in the newborn which result in early intervention and best outcome. However implementing universal screening strategy is a challenge in many resource constrained settings. There are various limitations towards successful implementation of hearing screening program in the developing countries. The cost effectiveness of the screening program also needs to be considered in a resource constrained settings. We attempt to provide a viewpoint that can be potentially helpful for the successful implementation of hearing screening in a resource constrained settings of the developing countries.

Objective To establish the feasibility of a systematic, community health worker (CHW)‐based hearing screening program that gathers Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act‐compliant electronic data (otoscopic images of tympanic membrane and audiometric evaluation) on a smartphone in an effort to streamline treatment options in resource‐limited communities. Methods This is a cross‐sectional study in which four schools were screened in Port‐au‐Prince, Haiti, during in April 2018. A total of 122 subjects (61% female) aged 5‐17 years underwent an initial brief audiometric screen followed by a more comprehensive air conduction audiometric evaluation if they failed their initial screen. Participants with more than 35‐dB loss in any frequency on their comprehensive audiometric evaluation received endoscopic otoscopy. Results Seventy‐five percent of subjects (91/122) passed their initial screen. Of those who failed, 9% (4/44 ears) had a severe or profound hearing loss on comprehensive evaluation. Abnormal otoscopic findings (11/36 ears, 31%) included are cerumen impaction (n = 6), myringosclerosis (n = 3), tympanic membrane perforation (n = 1), and tympanic membrane retraction (n = 1). The average duration of the initial testing was 100 seconds (SD = 74 seconds), whereas the duration of comprehensive testing was 394 seconds (SD = 175 seconds). Extrapolating from these data, we estimate that a group of seven trained CHWs could gather formal audiologic and otologic data points for 100 children per hour using this protocol. Conclusions A systematic approach that utilizes local resources (CHWs) and existing infrastructure (cell phones and the Internet) can significantly reduce the burden of hearing healthcare specialists while simultaneously facilitating early diagnosis and management of disabling hearing loss in low‐resourced settings. Level of evidence Level 4.

Few studies have examined factors associated with the timing of identification of hearing loss within a cohort of infants identified as deaf or hard of hearing (DHH) and what factors are associated with delayed identification. Minnesota Early Hearing Detection and Intervention (EHDI) personnel studied deidentified data from 729 infants with confirmed congenital hearing loss (i.e., hearing loss identification after not passing newborn hearing screening) born in Minnesota during 2012-2016. Differences in likelihood of delayed identification of congenital hearing loss (defined as not passing newborn hearing screening and age >3 months at the time of identification as DHH) based on multiple variables were analyzed. Overall, 222 (30.4%) infants identified as DHH had delayed identification. Multivariate regression showed that infants identified as DHH were significantly more likely to have delayed identification if they had 1) low birthweight, 2) public insurance, 3) a residence outside the metropolitan area, 4) a mother with a lower level of education, 5) a mother aged

Objective: To investigate the validity of hearing screening with hearTest smartphone-based audiometry and to specify test duration addressing the two response modes and hearing loss criteria.Design: A diagnostic accuracy study comparing hearing screening with conventional audiometry.Study sample: Three hundred and forty individuals, aged between 5-92 years.Results: Of the 340 participants, 301 undertook all test procedures (273 adults and 28 children). Sensitivity and specificity were >90% for hearTest hearing screening to identify disabling hearing loss for both response modes with adults and children. We found similar sensitivity in identifying any level of hearing loss for both response modes in children, with specificity >80%, and for the self-test mode in adults. Low specificity was observed when identifying any level of hearing loss in adults using the test-operator mode. In adults, there was a significant difference between test duration for the test-operator and self-test modes.Conclusion: Hearing screening using hearTest smartphone-based audiometry is accurate for the identification of both disabling hearing loss and any level of hearing loss in adults and children in the self-test response mode. The test-operator mode is also an option for children; however, it does not provide good accuracy in identifying mild level of hearing loss in adults.

Introduction: Brainstem auditory evoked potentials in response to complex sounds, such as speech sounds, investigate the neural representation of these sounds at subcortical levels, and faithfully reflect the stimulus characteristics. However, there are few studies that utilize this type of stimulus; for it to be used in clinical practice it is necessary to establish standards of normality through studies performed in different populations. Objective: To analyze the latencies and amplitudes of the waves obtained from the tracings of brainstem auditory evoked potentials using speech stimuli in Brazilian neonates with normal hearing and without auditory risk factors. Methods: 21 neonates with a mean age of 9 days without risk of hearing loss and with normal results at the neonatal hearing screening were evaluated according to the Joint Committee on Infant Hearing protocols. Auditory evoked potentials were performed with speech stimuli (/da/ syllable) at the intensity of 80 dBNA and the latency and amplitude of the waves obtained were analyzed. Results: In the transient portion, we observed a 100% response rate for all analyzable waves (Wave I, Wave III, Wave V and Wave A), and these waves exhibited a latency

Purpose The purpose of this study is to determine the sensitivities and specificities of different audiometric hearing screening criteria and single-item and multi-item hearing disability questionnaires among a group of Spanish-speaking adults in a rural community. Method Participants were 131 predominantly older (77% 65+ years) Hispanic/Latinx adults (98%). A structured Spanish-language interview and pure-tone threshold test data were analyzed for each participant. The sensitivities and specificities of three single questions and the Hearing Handicap Index for the Elderly–Screening (HHIE-S; Ventry & Weinstein, 1983 ) in Spanish, as well as three audiometric screening criteria, were evaluated in relation to the pure-tone threshold test for detecting hearing loss. Results Sensitivity and specificity of audiometric screening criteria varied, but the highest sensitivity was found for the criterion of > 25 dB HL at 1–4 kHz in either ear. The single self-perception question, “ ¿Cree usted que tiene pérdida de audición? ( Do you think you have a hearing loss?),” was shown to be the most sensitive self-report screening compared to other single-item questions and the HHIE-S. This single question was as sensitive as an audiometric screening to detect a moderate hearing loss (> 40 dB HL in either ear). Results from the Spanish HHIE-S indicated poor performance to detect hearing loss in this population, consistent with previous research. Conclusions Among older Spanish-speaking adults, self-reported hearing status had varying sensitivities depending on the question asked. However, of the tools evaluated, the self-perception question proved to be a more sensitive and specific tool than a multi-item screen. Objective audiometric testing (> 25 dB HL) resulted in the highest sensitivity to detect a mild hearing loss.

Purpose This study investigated user characteristics, help-seeking behavior, and follow-up actions of people who failed an app-based digits-in-noise hearing screening test, considering their stage of change. Method Test and user characteristics of 3,092 listeners who failed the test were retrospectively analyzed. A posttest survey determining follow-up (verb) actions was sent to listeners who failed the test ( n = 1,007), of which 59 responded. Results The majority of listeners were in the precontemplation stage (75.5%). Age and stage of change were significant ( p < .05) predictors of the digits-in-noise speech recognition threshold (DIN SRT). Listeners in the precontemplation stage were significantly younger than in other stages ( p < .05). Posttest survey response rate was low (5.9%). Of those, most (82.4%) did not think they had a hearing loss. Only 13.6% followed up with an audiologist. Conclusion Older people presented with poorer DIN SRTs and were typically in a more advanced stage of change. The majority of those who did not follow up after failing the screening test did not believe they had a hearing loss. A combination of factors, including poor DIN SRT, older age, and a more advanced stage of change inclined participants to follow up with audiological care.

Objective: The present study aimed to establish the test-retest reliability and validity of a tablet-based automated pure-tone screening test and a word-in-noise test as hearing screening tools for...

Management of hearing loss in infants and young children has evolved rapidly with the formation of universal newborn hearing screening and early intervention programs. This review describes the management process for children with hearing loss, including determining candidacy for amplification, selection of amplification devices, electroacoustic verification, and outcomes validation. The importance of a coordinated, evidence-based approach can help to ensure the best communication outcomes for children with hearing loss.

Background It is estimated that about 15% of students have transient hearing loss worldwide sufficient enough to interfere with communication, psychosocial relationship, and learning resulting in poor educational achievement and poverty. However, these conditions are reversible through timely detection and effective interventions. India is home to the largest number of school age children with hearing impairment, and majority of them remain undetected and untreated due to the absence of any dedicated hearing screening program. Therefore, this paper attempts to convince all stakeholders for planning and implementing early detection and intervention program for children with hearing impairment in school settings. Methods Recent literature estimates that children between the ages 0 and 14 years contribute 25.9% of the total Indian population. As per the global estimates of the prevalence of hearing impairment, India houses the largest number of school age children with hearing impairment. Many of them either remain out of school or perform poorly in school curriculum. Results The children in educational programs are readily and easily available for applying hearing screening procedures to detect hearing impairment and instituting audiological and educational remedial measures. But unfortunately, India has not yet envisaged any dedicated early detection and intervention program for school-going children consequently majority of children with hearing impairment undetected and untreated in the classroom. Conclusion Hearing impairment is a serious health concern among school age children which can adversely impact on communication, educational achievement, and vocational options. However, screening approaches for early identification in school age children across the world which are simple, effective, and cost-efficient can be considered for countries like India to reverse the ill effects of hearing impairment. Potential implication The paper may heighten the awareness among school personnel, educational administrators, and policymakers to consider planning and implementation of early detection and intervention program for children with hearing impairment in school settings.

Compelling evidence indicates that some newborns harboring genetic variants associated with hearing loss might not be identified by current physiologic newborn hearing screening (NBHS) rendering current NBHS protocols suboptimal. Incorporating genomic sequencing into NBHS would improve clinical diagnosis and decrease time to early intervention efforts.

Stimulus-frequency otoacoustic emissions (SFOAEs) can be useful tools for assessing cochlear function noninvasively. However, there is a lack of reports describing their utility in predicting hearing capabilities. Data for model training were collected from 245 and 839 ears with normal hearing and sensorineural hearing loss, respectively. Based on SFOAEs, this study developed an objective assessment system consisting of three mutually independent modules, with the routine test module and the fast test module used for threshold prediction and the hearing screening module for identifying hearing loss. Results evaluated via cross-validation show that the routine test module and the fast test module predict hearing thresholds with similar performance from 0.5 to 8 kHz, with mean absolute errors of 7.06–11.61 dB for the routine module and of 7.40–12.60 dB for the fast module. However, the fast module involves less test time than is needed in the routine module. The hearing screening module identifies hearing status with a large area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (0.912–0.985), high accuracy (88.4–95.9%), and low false negative rate (2.9–7.0%) at 0.5–8 kHz. The three modules are further validated on unknown data, and the results are similar to those obtained through cross-validation, indicating these modules can be well generalized to new data. Both the routine module and fast module are potential tools for predicting hearing thresholds. However, their prediction performance in ears with hearing loss requires further improvement to facilitate their clinical utility. The hearing screening module shows promise as a clinical tool for identifying hearing loss.

Since hearing loss is one of the most widespread disabilities and can often be addressed by early detection and intervention, there is a strong interest in technologies for cost-effective and mass-deployable hearing screening. Towards this, smartphones have been used for subjective tests where a sequence of tones are played to a subject who has to appropriately respond upon hearing them. But such tests are inappropriate where, e.g., children are involved who cannot provide reliable feedback, or the test takes too long. In this paper, we investigate an alternative modality to develop an objective screening test using smartphones. It relies on how the cochlea actively distorts tones emitted into the ear. By measuring these distorted signals, it is possible to reliably deduce the subject’s hearing health. But smartphones are not designed to detect such low signals, and the suitability of a phone depends on the signal processing characteristics of the phone’s hardware. In this paper we investigate this issue in detail and conclude that some smartphones are suitable for objective screening tests that require no interaction with a subject. This opens up new screening options that were not available before and have immense societal implications in developing countries.

OBJECTIVES To investigate trends in population-level school-aged reading scores among students with hearing loss in an urban Colorado school district after implementation of universal newborn hearing screening (UNHS) and Early Hearing Detection and Intervention. METHODS The final sample included 1422 assessments conducted during the 2000–2001 through 2013–2014 school years for 321 children with hearing loss in grades 3 through 10. Longitudinal hierarchical linear modeling analyses were used to examine reading proficiency (controlling for birth year, grade in school, free and reduced lunch status, additional disability services, and English not spoken in the home). The Colorado Student Assessment Program was administered to students in third through 10th grades throughout the state. The test years chosen included children born before and after implementation of UNHS. RESULTS After implementation of UNHS, significant longitudinal reading proficiency improvements were observed by birth year and grade overall and for all subgroups. However, gains in reading proficiency were substantially less for children eligible for free and reduced lunch and those with moderate-severe to profound hearing loss. With each succeeding birth cohort and grade, increased numbers of children participated in testing because of improved language skills, with higher proportions identified as proficient or advanced readers. CONCLUSIONS Notable improvements in reading proficiency after Early Hearing Detection and Intervention implementation were demonstrated, as all groups of children with hearing loss became more likely to achieve proficient and advanced reading levels. On the other hand, some disparities increased, with greater improvements in reading proficiency for children in economically advantaged families.