OBJECTIVE: The goal of this study was to investigate the prevalence of delayed-onset hearing loss in preschool children who previously passed newborn hearing screening in Shanghai, China. METHODS: Between October 2009 and September 2010, 21,427 preschool children were enrolled from five areas of Shanghai, who had passed newborn hearing screening. Children were screened for delayed-onset hearing loss with pediatric audiometers. Children with positive results in initial and re-screening tests were assessed audiologically and for risk indicators according to the Year 2007 Statement of the American Joint Committee on Infant Hearing (JCIH). RESULTS: During the study period, 445 children (2.08%) were referred for audiologic assessment; 16 (0.75/1000, 95% CI 0.38-1.12) had permanent delayed-onset hearing loss. Of these, five (0.23/1000) had bilateral moderate hearing loss; seven (0.33/1000) had mild bilateral hearing loss; and four (0.19/1000) had unilateral moderate or mild hearing loss. JCIH risk indicators were established for six children (6/16, 37.5%), including parental concern regarding speech and language developmental delay, neonatal intensive care unit with assisted ventilation or hyperbilirubinemia, recurrent otitis media with effusion, craniofacial malformation, and family history (n=1 for each). The remaining ten (62.5%) had no related risk factors. CONCLUSIONS: A significant proportion of preschool children have undiagnosed delayed-onset hearing loss. Hearing screening in preschool is recommended for an early detection.
OBJECTIVE: The goal of this study was to investigate the prevalence of delayed-onset hearing loss in preschool children who previously passed newborn hearing screening in Shanghai, China. METHODS: Between October 2009 and September 2010, 21,427 preschool children were enrolled from five areas of Shanghai, who had passed newborn hearing screening. Children were screened for delayed-onset hearing loss with pediatric audiometers. Children with positive results in initial and re-screening tests were assessed audiologically and for risk indicators according to the Year 2007 Statement of the American Joint Committee on Infant Hearing (JCIH). RESULTS: During the study period, 445 children (2.08%) were referred for audiologic assessment; 16 (0.75/1000, 95% CI 0.38-1.12) had permanent delayed-onset hearing loss. Of these, five (0.23/1000) had bilateral moderate hearing loss; seven (0.33/1000) had mild bilateral hearing loss; and four (0.19/1000) had unilateral moderate or mild hearing loss. JCIH risk indicators were established for six children (6/16, 37.5%), including parental concern regarding speech and language developmental delay, neonatal intensive care unit with assisted ventilation or hyperbilirubinemia, recurrent otitis media with effusion, craniofacial malformation, and family history (n=1 for each). The remaining ten (62.5%) had no related risk factors. CONCLUSIONS: A significant proportion of preschool children have undiagnosed delayed-onset hearing loss. Hearing screening in preschool is recommended for an early detection.
Authors: Elizabeth A Walker; Meredith Spratford; Sophie E Ambrose; Lenore Holte; Jacob Oleson Journal: Am J Audiol Date: 2017-03-01 Impact factor: 1.493