Resume. Hearing screening is an important part of WHO’s strategy to improve public health and reduce the burden on health care.

Aim: to analyze the data obtained during the functioning of the newborn hearing screening program. In Ukraine, the nationwide hearing screening program was approved on 06/09/2021 by order of the Ministry of Health of Ukraine No. 1144 “On approval of the Procedure for Conducting Hearing Screening of Children”, and came into force on 01/01/2022. Before that, there were point local hearing screening programs in Kyiv and the regions, which were limited by funding and the enthusiasm of the participants.

Materials and methods. The study was conducted in the age group of children up to 1 month who were treated in a hospital and who were not screened for hearing in the maternity ward after birth. All children initially underwent an otoacoustic emission (OAE) study. When negative results were detected in one or both ears, such children underwent an objective hearing test using the AABR (automated auditory brain stem response) method, which allows to confirm and establish the level of hearing loss.

Results. During the period 01.09.2016-01.07.2020, 2,084 children were examined. Among them, 73 are twins, 1 is a triplet. OAE results were scored as “passed” (1927 children, 92.47%), “failed 1 ear” (83 children, 3.55%), “failed 2 ears” (74 children, 3.98%), together – 157 children (7.53%). The list of diagnoses that included children with negative hearing screening results were: Edwards syndrome, Down syndrome, Pierre Robin syndrome, hydrocephalus, cleft soft palate, multiple congenital malformations, fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS), prematurity of different gestational periods, intrauterine growth retardation (UGR), multiple pregnancy (twins), birth trauma, acute respiratory infection (ARI), acute unilateral otitis media. The rate of children with verified hearing impairment was 17 per 1000 newborns, which is at the level of the indicator of low-income countries and exceeds the indicators of healthy infants (1–3 per 1000). Unfortunately, there are no data on the presence of a latent variant of CMV in children with negative HS results, the probability of which is indicated in modern literature.

Conclusions. The frequency of children with hearing impairment, who were treated in a hospital, was 17 per 1000 newborns, which exceeds the indicators of healthy babies. Most often, negative results of OAE are shown by premature children, children from multiple pregnancies, with chromosomal pathology, congenital malformations, FAS, and pseudo-negative results were obtained by children with ARI. Such categories of children should definitely undergo OAE, and in case of negative results – ABBR. CMV testing with potential subsequent treatment should be recommended for children with verified hearing loss. Early detection of hearing impairment in children makes it possible to refer for further early intervention (hearing aids, rehabilitation) and to eliminate the problem of hearing loss, impairment of language and neuropsychological development, to properly socialize the child, avoiding disability and reducing the financial burden on the state and the family in the future.

Article received: 01.06.2023

Keywords: hearing screening, newborns, children, otoacoustic emission, automated auditory brain stem response

Full text: PDF (Ukr)

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