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Does universal newborn hearing screening impact the timing of deafness treatment?

Authors :
Marina Faistauer
Alice Lang Silva
Daniela de Oliveira Ruiz Dominguez
Renata Bohn
Têmis Maria Félix
Sady Selaimen da Costa
Letícia Petersen Schmidt Rosito
Source :
Jornal de Pediatria, Vol 98, Iss 2, Pp 147-154 (2022)
Publication Year :
2022
Publisher :
Elsevier, 2022.

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the impact of the Universal Neonatal Hearing Screening (UNHS) on the age at diagnosis, beginning of treatment, and first cochlear implant surgery. Methods: A retrospective cohort study with children up to 12 years old with bilateral hearing loss were divided into two groups: patients who underwent UNHS and the ones who didn't. The groups were compared according to their age at the beginning of the evaluation at a specialized center, at the beginning of the intervention, and, for the ones who had indication, at the cochlear implant surgery. The group who underwent UNHS was divided between the ones who passed the screening test and the ones who didn't. They were compared according to their ages at the same moments as the first two groups. Results: 135 patients were included. The median age at the first appointment in a specialized center was 1.42 (0.50 and 2.50) years, at the beginning of treatment 2.00 (1.00 and 3.52) years, and the cochlear implant surgery 2.83 (1.83 and 4.66) years. Children who underwent UNHS were younger than those who didn't, at the three evaluated moments (p < 0.001). In a subanalysis, children who passed the UNHS but were later diagnosed with hearing loss reached the first appointment with a specialist and started treatment older than those who failed the tests. Conclusion: Performing UNHS interfered with the timing of deafness diagnosis and treatment. However, children who passed the screening but were later diagnosed with hearing loss were the category with the most important delay.

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
00217557
Volume :
98
Issue :
2
Database :
Directory of Open Access Journals
Journal :
Jornal de Pediatria
Publication Type :
Academic Journal
Accession number :
edsdoj.2b78f2984ae4234bb606fec95925d81
Document Type :
article
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jped.2021.04.008