[Universal hearing screening: 10,835 newborns tested in maternity wards of the geographical Department of Eure, France].
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to evaluate Universal Screening using transient evoked otoacoustic emisions (TEOAE) in the geographical Department of Eure -France.


METHODS
This hearing screening was initially developed at a single maternity ward (September 1999 to December 2002), and then throughout the Department (January 2003 to December 2003). One or two successive TEOAE tests were recorded. In cases of a positive test, a new TEAO was recorded at otolaryngology consultation one month later. If this test was again positive, a new consultation with brainstem auditory evoked potential (BAEP) was scheduled. If hearing loss was suspected following BAEP, an audiometric test was performed.


RESULTS
A total of 10,770 newborns were screened (99.38%), 65 newborns were lost to follow-up (0.59%), 18 bilateral hearing losses were identified (1.6/1000), and 5 of them had hearing loss risk factors.


CONCLUSIONS
This study demonstrated that a hearing screening program in the maternity ward using TEOAE is recommended and provides optimal results.
De Barros Boishardy
A
A
Service ORL et CCF, Centre Hospitalier d'Evreux, 17 rue Saint Louis, 27000 Evreux.
Lenoir
F Moreau
FM
Brami
Ph
P
Kapella
M
M
Obstoy
M-Fr
MF
Amstutz-Montadert
I
I
Lerosey
Y
Y
D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005602:France; D006320:Hearing Tests; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D015997:Neonatal Screening