Neonatal hearing screening with transient evoked otoacoustic emissions: A learning curve

The present paper reports on the implementation of a neonatal hearing scree ning programme in a private hospital in Belgium. A maternity-based neonatal hearing screening project with transient evoked otoacoustic emissions (TEO AEs) was started in 1993. The cost of the test was not covered by the publi c health insurance, so the parents had to pay the full cost for screening t heir child (approximately 30 Euro). Since 1993 the programme strategies hav e been changed on several occasions to improve the quality and efficacy. A retrospective analysis was performed on: (1) the test pass rate; (2) the co verage; and (3) the number of children who become 'Lost to follow-up' after failing the initial test. The data show a steady learning curve with a tim e course of several years. They also demonstrate that it is worthwhile and feasible to run a high-quality screening programme in a private establishme nt.