[Screening of hearing in children up to 18 months of age].
In the Netherlands the hearing screening of young children is carried out at the age of nine months by the Ewing or 'Compact Amsterdam paedo-audiometric screener' (CAPAS) test. These screening tests do not always lead to the necessary follow-up diagnostics, mainly because the different disciplines disagree. Recently a consensus concerning the follow-up of children with a poor test result was reached by the Youth Health Care institutions, general practitioners, paediatricians, ENT physicians and audiologic centres. Each party has its own responsibilities and commits itself to complete the diagnostics before the age of 18 months. Until new screening methods have been validated it is advised to refer all children with poor screening test results for special diagnostics, if necessary after they have been treated for otitis media with effusion. Currently the most appropriate method for final diagnosis is the measurement of oto-acoustic emissions.
Theunissen
E J
EJ
St. Maartens Gasthuis, afd. Keel-, Neus- en Oorheelkunde, Venlo.
D001300:Audiometry, Evoked Response / Q000379:methods*; D002662:Child Health Services / Q000592:standards*; D003638:Deafness / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D016057:Evoked Potentials, Auditory, Brain Stem; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000379:methods; D009426:Netherlands / Q000453:epidemiology; D010034:Otitis Media with Effusion / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology; D012017:Referral and Consultation / Q000592:standards