PEDIATRIC SCREENING FOR HEARING-LOSS IN 6 -MONTH-OLD INFANTS - IMPROVED EFFICACY WITH THE USE OF A PARENT QUESTIONNAIRE - OBJECTIVE

Assessment of a) the efficacy of hearing loss screening in baby check- ups at the age of 6 to 8 months b) the efficiency and efficacy using p arent questionnaires about hearing loss risk factors and parents' conc ern about the child's hearing as part of baby check-up. Methods: The a nalyses are based on 7282 baby check-ups carried out in 47 pediatricia ns' offices in the Dusseldorf area from July 1991 to March 1993: 3385 of these check-ups were performed in the traditional manner (period A; July 1, 1991, to January 1, 1992; 3897 check-ups involved parent ques tionnaires (period B June 1, 1992, to March 31, 1993). All children wh o failed the tests and a random sample of those who had passed the tes t when tested in the traditional manner, were offered extensive hearin g assessment. Results: In period A, 4.3% of the children failed the te st as compared to 21.7% with the first version of the questionnaire an d 14.3% with a revised questionnaire in period B. Compliance to the of fer of extensive hearing assessment was unsatisfactory (53% in period A and 63% in period B). The first extensive hearing examination failed to distinguish healthy children from children with probable sensorine ural hearing loss in about 30% of the patients, mainly because of glue ear. One child with sensorineural hearing loss was identified by the screening in period A as compared to six children in period B. Conclus ions: 1) The sytematic use of parent questionnaires in baby check-ups at ages 6 to 8 months is likely to increase the efficacy of the screen ing. 2) The efficiency of the questionnaires currently in use, however , needs to be improved and can be improved with the data from the stud y. 3) The compliance with extensive hearing testing in children who ha ve failed the screening test must be improved. 4) Due to the high prev alence of conductive hearing loss in this age group, treatment of pote ntial glue ear problems is mandatory before referral for extensive tes ting for sensorineural hearing loss.