[Mass screening for detection of infants with hearing impairment. I. Methods and process of the mass screening examination for hearing].
A mass screening program to detect infants with hearing impairment was conducted at the Sapporo Toyohira Health Center in Hokkaido. Between April 1988 and March 1990, 5,676 infants were screened by a questionnaire at the time of the 4-month health examination. Out of the 5,080 cases who could be followed, nine infants underwent thorough otolaryngological examinations, and among the nine infants three cases with hearing impairment were detected. The prevalence rate was, therefore, one case out of 1,693 infants. Although false positive cases amounted to about 5% of the initial infant population, true positive cases were confirmed out of the initially screened positive cases at 7 or 10 months of age through other questionnaires and through behavioral hearing tests using a bell. No false negative cases were found. Inclusion of this mass screening system in the routine child health program is recommended.
Nishi
M
M
Sapporo Toyohira Health Center.
Hamajima
I
I
Uemura
T
T
D005260:Female; D006311:Hearing Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006320:Hearing Tests / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007564:Japan / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000379:methods*