Journal article

Universal Newborn Hearing Screening Program: 10-Year Outcome and Follow-Up from a Screening Center in Germany


Authors listThangavelu, Kruthika; Martakis, Kyriakos; Feldmann, Silke; Roth, Bernhard; Herkenrath, Peter; Lang-Roth, Ruth

Publication year2023

JournalInternational Journal of Neonatal Screening

Volume number9

Issue number4

eISSN2409-515X

Open access statusGold

DOI Linkhttps://doi.org/10.3390/ijns9040061

PublisherMDPI


Abstract
Regular reporting of quality control is important in newborn hearing screening, ensuring early diagnosis and intervention. This study reports on a population-based newborn hearing screening program in North-Rhine, Germany and a hospital-based screening at a University Hospital for 2007-2016. The two-staged 'screening' and 'follow-up' program involving TEOAE and AABR recruited newborns through participating birth facilities. Results were sent to the regional tracking center, and the data were analyzed based on recommended benchmarks. The percentage of newborns from the participating birth facilities in the region increased from 1.4% in 2007 to 57.5% in 2016. The 10-year coverage rate for these newborns was 98.7%, the referral rate after a failed two-step screening was 3.4%, and the lost-to-follow-up rate was 1%. At the hospital, >95% of the screened newborns completed screening within 30 days, the 10-year referral rate was 5%, and 64% were referred within 3 months of age. The median time for screening completion was 6 days after birth, for referral it was 74 days after birth, and for diagnosis it was 55 days after birth. Regional-centralized tracking centers with uniform structure are necessary for proper quality control. Obligatory participation of birthing facilities and quality reports may improve performance, but the recommended quality criteria need considerable financial and infrastructural expenditure.



Citation Styles

Harvard Citation styleThangavelu, K., Martakis, K., Feldmann, S., Roth, B., Herkenrath, P. and Lang-Roth, R. (2023) Universal Newborn Hearing Screening Program: 10-Year Outcome and Follow-Up from a Screening Center in Germany, International Journal of Neonatal Screening, 9(4), Article 61. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijns9040061

APA Citation styleThangavelu, K., Martakis, K., Feldmann, S., Roth, B., Herkenrath, P., & Lang-Roth, R. (2023). Universal Newborn Hearing Screening Program: 10-Year Outcome and Follow-Up from a Screening Center in Germany. International Journal of Neonatal Screening. 9(4), Article 61. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijns9040061



Keywords


benchmarkshospital-based screeningnewborn hearing screeningpopulation-based screening

Last updated on 2025-10-06 at 12:01