학술논문
Do all infants with congenital hearing loss meet the 1-3-6 criteria? A study of a 10-year cohort from a universal newborn hearing screening programme in Singapore.
Document Type
Article
Source
Subject
*TREATMENT of hearing disorders
*PATIENT aftercare
*RETROSPECTIVE studies
*ACQUISITION of data
*TREATMENT effectiveness
*AUDIOMETRY
*HEARING disorders
*DESCRIPTIVE statistics
*MEDICAL records
*PATIENT education
*EDUCATIONAL outcomes
*CHILDREN
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Language
ISSN
1499-2027
Abstract
To evaluate 1) the outcomes of a local universal newborn hearing screening (UNHS) programme and its audiological follow-ups at 3- and 6-month points, 2) the education outcomes of children with congenital hearing loss (CHL). Retrospective study that analysed data containing hearing screening, diagnosis, intervention and schooling information from electronic databases. Children aged 5 to 15 years old who were born between 2004–2014 and underwent UNHS in a local hospital. Over a 10-year cohort, 99.4% of 29,972 newborns underwent UNHS; approximately 90% of them were screened by 1 month of age. However, only 10% of the cohort strictly fulfilled the 1-3-6 criteria recommended by the Joint Committee on Infant Hearing. Lost to follow-up (LTF) rate was highest at post-diagnosis (35%). 80% of infants who were intervened between 6 and 48 months of age went to mainstream schools. The remaining 20% had additional disabilities or family factors. A high UNHS coverage rate may not translate to meeting the 1-3-6 criteria. Despite ease of access to our healthcare system, LTF at post-diagnosis remained high. In the absence of additional disabilities or family factors, infants intervened during the sensitive window could still potentially make it into mainstream schools. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]