[Universal hearing screening of newborn infants with the BERA-phone].
BACKGROUND
Unidentified and untreated early infant hearing loss leads to speech-language deficits as well as to cognitive, intellectual, emotional and psychosocial handicaps. Targeted hearing screening programs may miss approximately 50% of all hearing impaired children.


METHODS
In an universal hearing screening program with a two stage protocol, 1349 newborns were examined using the CRESCENDO Newborn Hearing Screener according to Finkenzeller and a clinical ABR system operating with a time course step stimulus algorithm.


RESULTS
Five newborns that failed the two stage screening protocol were diagnosed as hearing impaired so that therapy was initiated before the age of six months. The specificity of the method was 98.8%. The CRESCENDO method only required a short examination time and was easy to apply.


CONCLUSIONS
Hearing screening programs using ABR offer advantages when compared to evoked otoacoustic emission testing. ABR threshold detection with the time course step stimulus algorithm is a quick and easy to apply method with high specificity that can be recommended for newborn hearing screening.
Shehata-Dieler
W E
WE
Bayerische Julius-Maximilians-Universität, Klinik und Poliklinik für Hals-, Nasen- und Ohrenkranke, Würzburg. hnok038@mail.uni-wuerzburg.de
Dieler
R
R
Keim
R
R
Finkenzeller
P
P
Dietl
J
J
Helms
J
J
D000465:Algorithms; D001300:Audiometry, Evoked Response / Q000295:instrumentation*; D001933:Brain Stem / Q000503:physiopathology; D003638:Deafness / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology; D004867:Equipment Design; D016057:Evoked Potentials, Auditory, Brain Stem / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D015997:Neonatal Screening / Q000295:instrumentation*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests