[Systematic hearing screening for newborns in the Champagne-Ardennes region: 32,500 births in 2 years of experience].
OBJECTIVE
To report a Universal Newborn Hearing Screening (UNHS) program developed in the Champagne-Ardennes region in 2004-2005.


METHODS
A team of ENT specialists and pediatricians set up a UNHS program designed to reduce the age of diagnosis and care of bilateral congenital deafness. The program was mainly based on automated acoustic otoacoustic emissions and a strict follow-up by the Regional Neonatal Screening Center.


RESULTS
In 2004 and 2005, 29,944 neonates from 30,518 births were screened (98.11%). Of the neonates screened, 409 (1.38%) failed the test and were referred. The average retest delay was 2 weeks. Eleven were lost to follow-up, 371 (94%) had a successful second test on one or both ears, 27 (7%) failed the test a second time and had a diagnosis of ABR. Twenty-four cases of bilateral deafness were identified early, 14 of which had no risk factors. One of the children lost to follow-up was actually deaf, which was diagnosed at 18 months of age. Since the beginning of the UNHS program, the average age of diagnosis was lowered to less than 3 months.


CONCLUSIONS
Our experience tends to demonstrate that UNHS is possible and the program allows an early diagnosis of bilateral congenital hearing loss.
Schmidt
P
P
Service ORL et chirurgie cervicofaciale, hôpital Robert-Debré, centre hospitalier universitaire de Reims, 51092 Reims cedex, France. pschmidt@chu-reims.fr
Leveque
M
M
Danvin
J-B
JB
Leroux
B
B
Chays
A
A
D001301:Audiometry, Pure-Tone; D002391:Catchment Area, Health; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003638:Deafness / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005602:France / Q000453:epidemiology; D006311:Hearing Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D006320:Hearing Tests; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D015997:Neonatal Screening / Q000379:methods*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index