Factors that determine the cost and performance of early identification protocols.

In this paper, a simple model is used to examine the relation between important factors, such as prevalence of hearing loss, and protocol performance and cost. Protocol hit rate is determined primarily by the hit rate of the screening protocol and follow-up percentage, the percentage of infants who return for diagnostic testing. Many factors influence protocol cost. Not only does absolute cost change as certain model parameters are varied, but the relative cost of different protocols can change as well. The false alarm rate of the screening protocol and the follow-up percentage have the greatest impact on protocol cost.