Volunteer-based universal newborn hearing screening program.

A H Messner; M Price; K Kwast; K Gallagher; J Forte

doi:10.1016/s0165-5876(01)00507-9

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Volunteer-based universal newborn hearing screening program.

A H Messner·M Price·K Kwast·K Gallagher·J Forte

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Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate efficacy and costs of a volunteer-based universal newborn hearing screening program. METHODS: The Lucile Packard Children's Hospital at Stanford newborn hearing screening program database was reviewed. Results and costs of the hearing screens were analyzed. RESULTS: Hearing screens were performed on 5771 newborns treated in the well-baby nursery and nine infants from this population were identified with hearing loss, seven of whom had no risks factors for hearing loss. Using volunteers to perform the first-line screen with the automated auditory brainstem response (AABR) technology, 91% of infants registered for screening were evaluated prior to discharge. An additional 4% of infants were screened as outpatients. If an infant failed the AABR on two occasions, he or she was rescreened with the AABR or transient evoked otoacoustic emissions by a licensed audiologist, often while the infant was still in the hospital. Using this algorithm, 5% of infants tested in the well-baby nursery needed additional follow-up as an outpatient. Cost analysis of this volunteer-based program reveals a per/baby screening cost of $27.41. CONCLUSIONS: A volunteer-based hearing screening program is a viable option for hearing screening in well-baby nurseries but does not result in significant cost savings during the first 2 years of the program.

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Audiometry California Costs and Cost Analysis Evoked Potentials, Auditory, Brain Stem Female Follow-Up Studies Hearing Disorders Hospital Volunteers Hospitals, Pediatric Humans Infant, Newborn Male Neonatal Screening Program Development Program Evaluation Sensitivity and Specificity Journal Article

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A H Messner, M Price, K Kwast, K Gallagher, J Forte. 2001-08-20. Volunteer-based universal newborn hearing screening program.. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0165-5876(01)00507-9

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