How do we identify hearing impairment in early childhood?
This review discusses the need for universal neonatal hearing screening. Historical background is given concerning conventional childhood hearing screening programmes in western countries. Direct studies on the effects of very early habilitation programmes on speech and language development are cited. Measurement of otoacoustic emissions (OAE) as a tool for neonatal hearing screening is presented. The state of neonatal hearing screening programmes in the US and in Europe, particularly in Sweden, is discussed.
Hergils
L
L
Department of Audiology, Linköping University Hospital, Sweden.
D002662:Child Health Services / Q000191:economics / Q000592:standards*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003051:Cochlea / Q000502:physiology; D006311:Hearing Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D015997:Neonatal Screening; D017084:Otoacoustic Emissions, Spontaneous / Q000502:physiology; D013548:Sweden / Q000453:epidemiology; D006113:United Kingdom / Q000453:epidemiology