British Journal of Audiology · 1999 · 15 citations · 6 references
Health ProfessionsAudiologyPediatricsDiagnostic AudiologyHearing AssessmentPediatric AudiologyHearing HealthHearing ImpairmentHearing LossPediatric Diagnostic AudiologyPediatric Ear DisordersPediatric Hearing AssessmentCongenital Hearing Loss DetectionDeafness IdentificationHearing Impairment IdentificationHearing ScreeningNeonatal ScreeningOutcome MeasuresOutcome Measures StandardsUniversal Screening Policy
A collaborative nine-centre study was designed to follow the routes to identification of all children up to the age of seven years newly diagnosed with permanent hearing impairment (> or = 50 dB HL) during the period 1993-1994. Ages of identification were compared with the standards set by the National Deaf Children's Society (NDCS), ascertaining whether these targets could be achieved with current service provision. Of the 126 children identified, 104 had congenital sensorineural hearing loss: 19% were identified by the age of six months and 39% by their first year. These results fall short of the NDCS targets of 40% and 80%, respectively, and point to the need for modifications of current practice, such as the introduction of universal neonatal screening.
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