Yojana Sharma Hansashree1, Sushen H Bhatt2, Somashekhar Nimbalkar3, Girish Mishra2. 1. Departments of 1Otorhinolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, and 2Pediatrics; Shri Krishna Hospital and Pramukhswami Medical College, Karamsad, Anand, Gujarat. 2. Department of Otorhinolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, Shri Krishna Hospital and Pramukhswami Medical College, Karamsad, Anand, Gujarat. 3. Department of Pediatrics; Shri Krishna Hospital and Pramukhswami Medical College, Karamsad, Anand, Gujarat. Correspondence to: Prof Somashekhar Nimbalkar, Professor and Head, Department of Pediatrics, Pramukhswami Medical College, Karamsad-Anand-Gujarat 388 325, India. somu_somu@yahoo.com.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: The reasons of failure to follow-up for the Universal Neonatal Hearing Screening (UNHS) program were delineated. METHODS: Review of case records for data related to follow-up of neonates who underwent the UNHS between February 2012 - January 2015. RESULTS: 2534 neonates underwent primary screening with Distortion Product Oto-acoustic Emission (DPOAE). 14 (26.9%) were lost to follow-up between the first and second DPOAE screenings. 275 neonates (including high-risk cases) were to undergo confirmatory Brain Evoked Response Audiometry testing out of which 201 (73.4%) came for follow-up. Out of 74 who failed to follow-up (including those lost between first and second DOPAE screenings), unwillingness and non-compliance was the commonest reason. CONCLUSION: Increasing awareness and counseling of the caretaker are important interventions for ensuring good follow-up in hearing screening programs.
OBJECTIVE: The reasons of failure to follow-up for the Universal Neonatal Hearing Screening (UNHS) program were delineated. METHODS: Review of case records for data related to follow-up of neonates who underwent the UNHS between February 2012 - January 2015. RESULTS: 2534 neonates underwent primary screening with Distortion Product Oto-acoustic Emission (DPOAE). 14 (26.9%) were lost to follow-up between the first and second DPOAE screenings. 275 neonates (including high-risk cases) were to undergo confirmatory Brain Evoked Response Audiometry testing out of which 201 (73.4%) came for follow-up. Out of 74 who failed to follow-up (including those lost between first and second DOPAE screenings), unwillingness and non-compliance was the commonest reason. CONCLUSION: Increasing awareness and counseling of the caretaker are important interventions for ensuring good follow-up in hearing screening programs.