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Last Modified: 06/16/2008
Given that permanent hearing loss is the most common birth defect, that a significant number of infants are lost to follow-up after newborn hearing screening, and that the incidence of hearing loss increases during childhood, primary care providers are becoming increasingly aware of the importance of detecting hearing loss during a child's language learning years. Tympanometry and pneumatic otoscopy provide valuable information on middle ear health, but until recently no objective tool has been available to screen young children for permanent hearing loss.
Since 2001, NCHAM has been exploring the use of Otoacoustic Emissions (OAE) screening technology to screen children 0 – 3 years of age. Of the 4518 children screened as a part of one study [PDF], 6% ultimately required medical or audiological follow-up. One hundred and seven children were identified as having a hearing loss or disorder of the outer, middle or inner ear requiring treatment or monitoring. Of these 107, 7 were found to have a permanent bilateral or unilateral hearing loss and included children who had passed the newborn screen, had referred but received no follow up, or were not screened at birth.
An objective screening tool, OAE technology holds great promise for health care providers in reliably screening infants and toddlers for hearing loss during the critical language-learning years. An implementation checklist, instructional video and manual, and additional resources have been designed specifically to help health care providers train staff to conduct OAE screenings (see Resources).
NCHAM has also been assisting a number of states to establish Early Childhood Hearing Outreach (ECHO) Training and Technical Assistance Teams in conjunction with state Early Hearing and Detection and Intervention (EHDI) Public Health Programs and/or other key stakeholders who are committed to early childhood hearing health. ECHO Teams are working with health care and early childhood education providers to assist them in establishing OAE screening programs. Contact information for ECHO Teams in participating states is available here:
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