Survey on neonatal hearing screening in Fukuoka

Abstract

A survey on neonatal hearing screening in Fukuoka prefecture was conducted using a questionnaire administered to the related facilities for screening, diagnosis, and education. The questionnaire was estimated to cover about 51% of all newborns in Fukuoka prefecture. Neonatal hearing screening was done for 81% of newborn infants. Among the infants who were diagnosed to require a referral, 31% could not be followed after leaving the first facility. More than half of the referred infants were not introduced to the ENT. Definite diagnosis of a hearing impairment was made by non-otorhinolaryngologists in 32% of the cases. In addition, 10% of the referred infants visited the clinic more than 3 months after the screening. To provide both post-screening care for the mother and early intervention for the infants, a system to control the overall data with the consensus by all participating facilities needs to be established.