2001 Volume 11 Issue 3 Pages 184-189
The purpose of this study is to evaluate the predictive value of universal screening programs with a hospital-based study held in Japan. 2843 new born babies born between 1998 and 2000 were examined by automated ABR. Twenty three of them (0.8%) were referred for further evaluation of their audiologic features.Finally, 7 hearing-impaired children were identified. The qualification rate was 99.2% and predictive valueof positive test was 30.4% in total population. In low-risk populations, the qualification rate and predictivevalue of positive test were 99.6% and 30%, respectively. Educational interventions were immediately conductedin the center for hearing impaired children, Okayama (Kanariya Gakuen). Preliminarily, early-identifiedchildren demonstrated relatively better developmental quotients including language and cognitive development, comparing with later identified children with hearing impairment. Education system for early-identifiedchildren with hearing impairment is indispensable for the establishment of the nation-wide universalscreening system in Japan.
