Initial outcomes from universal newborn hearing screening in Avon.
OBJECTIVE
The Avon Area Health Authority was a first-phase site for introduction of universal newborn screening in the UK. The aims of this study were: to review the programme's results to date; to assess the impact screening would have on other services (e.g. the cochlear implant programme); and to assess the longer term outcome for children identified by the screening programme.


METHODS
All children identified by the Avon universal newborn hearing screening programme between April 2002 and July 2006.


RESULTS
Fifty-four children with a bilateral hearing impairment of worse than 40 dBHL were identified from a screened population of approximately 44 000. Nine of these children were put forward for cochlear implantation, and seven had been implanted at the time of writing. Thirteen of these children were identified with possible auditory neuropathy or dys-synchrony. All the newborn hearing screening programme criteria assessed were met.


CONCLUSIONS
The screening programme was effective. Some areas may need review in order to optimise patient care.
Sim
R J
RJ
Department of Otolaryngology, Dorset County Hospital, Dorchester, UK. Richard.Sim@dchft.nhs.uk
Matthew
S
S
Foley
R J
RJ
Robinson
P J
PJ
D000367:Age Factors; D001301:Audiometry, Pure-Tone / Q000379:methods; D001307:Auditory Perception; D019929:Cochlear Implantation / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006312:Hearing Loss, Bilateral / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000601:surgery; D006320:Hearing Tests; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D015997:Neonatal Screening; D015397:Program Evaluation; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D006113:United Kingdom / Q000453:epidemiology