Neonatal hearing screening in Olomouc region: failure analysis

Summary

Introduction: Hearing impairment is considered the most serious sensory handicap, which hinders incorporation of the affected person into majority society. Only functional area-wide screening may lead to detection of the defect soon enough. Without it, the deficit may be discovered after third year of age when delayed development of speech becomes apparent. Area-wide neonatal hearing screening in the Czech Republic has been carried out only in Moravskoslezsky, Kralovehradecky and Pardubicky regions until recently.

Methods: Results of neonatal hearing screening in 1-6/2019 in Olomouc region were evaluated and analysis of shortcommings was done. We explored the cases when rescreening was not done by interviewing parents by telephone.

Results: In total 3001 children were born in Olomouc region from January to June 2019, screening was done in 2901 of them (96.67%). Otoacoustic emission were not recorded or the test was not performed in 161 neonates (5.37%), majority of those not performed was caused by breakdown of a device and lack of a substitute. These were sent for rescreening. Only 111 (68.94%) came, and from these 106 had emissions present bilaterally and five unilaterally. Rescreening was not done in 50 children. Some of them actually had the examination done, but by a doctor, who does not send results to the regional center.

Conclusion: Expected number of children with bilateral hearing impairment was not dicsovered in Olomouc region in first half-year of 2019, some neonates have not underwent screening because of lack of a substitute device and attandace of resreening was not good, but part of this problem is due to bad transmition of results in the region.

Keywords:

Neonates – otoacoustic emissions – hearing screening – regional organisation