Newborn hearing screening in Hong Kong

BCC Lam
Department of Paediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, University of Hong Kong, Queen Mary Hospital, Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong

OBJECTIVES. To review studies on newborn hearing screening in Hong Kong and the current evidence on the cost-effectiveness of universal newborn hearing screening programmes and to determine their value and the best model for such a programme in Hong Kong.

DATA SOURCE. Medline literature search (1985-2004), local reports and abstracts available to the author.

STUDY SELECTION . Literature and data on newborn hearing screening strategies, screening devices, cost-effectiveness study of universal newborn hearing screening programmes.

DATA EXTRACTION. Relevant information and data were reviewed by the author.

DATA SYNTHESIS. A universal newborn hearing screening programme with a high coverage rate is essential to enable early diagnosis and intervention before 6 months of age. This ensures good language and cognitive outcomes in hearing impaired children. A cost-effective universal newborn hearing screening programme should be hospital-based to achieve a high coverage rate, use modern screening devices with high sensitivity and specificity that enable early diagnosis, and be acceptable to parents.

CONCLUSIONS. Increasing evidence supports the cost-effectiveness and long-term benefits of universal newborn hearing screening programmes. The medical community in Hong Kong should work towards the development and implementation of a well-coordinated, collaborative, multidisciplinary, cost-effective, and sustainable territory-wide universal newborn hearing screening programme coupled with interventions for the next generation of hearing impaired children.

Hong Kong Med J 2006;12:212-8

Key words: Hearing disorders; Hearing tests; Infant, newborn; Neonatal screening