title: Early detection of hearing impairment in newborns and infants.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  1-2 out of 1000 newborns have markedly impaired hearing.
  
  
  METHODS
  Review of the pertinent literature, which was retrieved with a selective search of the following databases: NHS EED (Economic Evaluation Database), HTA (Health Technology Assessment), DARE (Database of Abstracts of Reviews on Effectiveness), Clinical Trials, CDSR (Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews), and PubMed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The current scientific evidence favors universal neonatal hearing screening (UNHS) for the early detection of hearing impairment. UNHS is best performed in two stages: first measurement of otoacoustic emissions and then automated assessment of the brainstem auditory evoked response. To be effective, UNHS programs must have a high coverage rate, high sensitivity and specificity, and proper tracking with a low rate of loss to follow-up. Children with positive screening tests for hearing impairment should undergo confirmatory testing as soon as possible and then receive the appropriate treatment. Early intervention is particularly critical for speech acquisition.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The early detection and treatment of hearing impairment in newborns and infants has a beneficial effect on language acquisition.
authors.affiliation: Klinik und Poliklinik für Phoniatrie und Pädaudiologie, Medizinische Hochschule Hannover, Germany. Ptok.Martin@MH-Hannover.de
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ptok
mesh_terms: D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003638:Deafness / Q000151:congenital* / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D003936:Diagnosis, Computer-Assisted / Q000295:instrumentation; D016057:Evoked Potentials, Auditory, Brain Stem / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007805:Language Development Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D015997:Neonatal Screening; D017084:Otoacoustic Emissions, Spontaneous; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012307:Risk Factors; D013067:Speech Perception / Q000502:physiology