Interdisciplinary approach to design, performance, and quality management in a multicenter newborn hearing screening project. Discussion of the results of newborn hearing screening in Hamburg (part II).
Previously presented results of the newborn hearing screening in Hamburg and the perspectives are subsequently discussed. Minimum standards referring a participation of 95% of the neonates and a fail rate of less than 4% hearing-impaired children at the primary screening are fulfilled in Hamburg. Systematic screening of newborn hearing by an interdisciplinary approach provides early identification and intervention for children with permanent unilateral and bilateral hearing loss. But a newborn hearing screening on a voluntary basis alone cannot be maintained in the long run. Further, an anonymous data collection is not sufficient in regard to an uninterrupted tracking of conspicuous and unscreened neonates. A lost-to-follow-up rate of 31.3% at primary screening in Hamburg is much too high and emphasizes the need for a public health approach to a population-based newborn hearing screening with an elaborate and name-based tracking system. The legislation and implementation of a nationwide newborn hearing screening program in Germany and the association of German newborn hearing screening centers are highlighting long efforts of hearing professionals. But the implementation of a newborn hearing screening only makes sense if there exists an efficient tracking system. Sad to say, we are still a long way from the implementation of such a tracking system.
Rohlfs
Anna-Katharina
AK
Department of Voice, Speech, and Hearing Disorders, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Martinistraße 52, 20246 Hamburg, Germany. a.rohlfs@uke.uni-hamburg.de
Wiesner
Thomas
T
Drews
Holger
H
Müller
Frank
F
Breitfuss
Achim
A
Schiller
Regina
R
Hess
Markus
M
D042241:Early Diagnosis; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005858:Germany / Q000453:epidemiology; D034381:Hearing Loss / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy; D006320:Hearing Tests / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D059012:Lost to Follow-Up; D008297:Male; D015997:Neonatal Screening / Q000379:methods / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D013997:Time Factors