In the article, we will consider what it is - audiological screening of newborns.
In addition to examining newborns for metabolic congenital diseases and genetic pathologies, neonatal screening also includes a hearing examination along with ultrasound examinations of the baby. This makes it possible in time to identify various serious health problems and begin to correct them. Based on the results of the screening, children with any health deviations are selected, who are prescribed a detailed, and at the same time, in-depth examination.
Audiological screening: what is it?
This procedure makes it possible to detect hearing impairment at an early stage, which means that due to this it is possible to treat or correct failures in a timely manner by using a hearing aid. Why is it important? It is worth noting that without normal hearing, the baby will not normally develop and form speech functions.
Statistics show that congenital hearing loss occurs in one child out of a thousand newborns. But why is it so important to diagnose this pathology in time? Hearing plays a decisive role in the development of the child, because through it he receives all the information. For the early detection of hearing impairment for newborns, audiological screening is performed.
It can be performed already on the second or third day of the baby's life. Carrying out neonatal audiological screening is an opportunity to diagnose the problem on time, taking all the necessary measures that will certainly help the baby learn the language in order to adapt further in society. Now we will find out when and where this type of study of babies is carried out.
What is it - audiological screening of newborns, the photo shows.
When and where does this procedure take place?
Since 2008, the list of compulsory medical events includes a hearing test.
Often they ask where to do the child an audiological screening.
This is directly related to the fact that it is extremely difficult to identify a deviation by standard methods, and hearing impairment, which is congenital in nature, significantly affects the psychophysical development of children. In this regard, today they use a special miniature device for audiological screening, which allows you to quickly and painlessly check whether the baby hears or not.
Such a screening of newborns is carried out in terms of three to four days or immediately before the discharge of the crumbs from the maternity hospital, there are no contraindications to this examination as such. The method of audiological screening is carried out in two stages. The first step is an examination in the maternity hospital. At the same time, a special “UAE” technique is used for all babies, that is, otoacoustic emission is recorded. In the event that this screening of newborns was not carried out in the maternity hospital or there is no mark in the extract (or there are no marks in the development map) about its result, then this study must be carried out as part of the observation of the child within the children's clinic. Now we find out why this research method is required.
Why do we need information about conducting an audiological screening for a newborn, we will describe further.
Why do children even need such a screening?
The main purpose of this mass examination is to identify hearing problems congenital or acquired in childbirth or immediately after them, in the first few days of life. This is required in order to provide immediate assistance to children, including with the use of modern high technology. The children develop and form the ability to comprehend and understand speech, and then the first words are uttered by the kids along with the phrases due to the fact that they have the opportunity to hear the speech of the parents, and in addition, the people around them. In addition, their development is stimulated by various sound stimuli of animate, as well as inanimate nature.
In the event that children have even a slight decrease in hearing, this can threaten serious difficulties in the perception of any verbal information. Because of this, the development of special brain centers: speech and auditory can be impaired. This screening is prescribed to absolutely all children in order to timely detect auditory abnormalities, which is directly related to the fact that the corrective measures that are carried out in the first three to six months of life become especially effective.
In the event that an audiological screening has not been carried out in the maternity hospital, then it is mandatory to check how the baby hears before the age of three months. Later detection of an auditory anomaly may threaten a delay in speech development or problems with certain speech functions. Unfortunately, it is far from always possible to restore hearing. And this circumstance in the worst case threatens the baby with a deaf-mute. Next, let's talk about the features of this procedure.
What it is - audiological screening of newborns is interesting to many parents.
What are the features of this procedure?
A neonatologist examines children. This specialist is trained in audiological screening techniques. The doctor uses a device that automatically registers otoacoustic emission. In addition, a specialist uses a special electric acoustic probe. On it is a miniature likeness of the phone along with a special microphone with high sensitivity. The devices are connected in the form of a sealed liner in the eye.
The device is inserted into the external auditory canals of children when they are in a calm state (that is, they are not hungry and do not cry). This probe is connected to a device that detects acoustic emission. The doctor tries to do everything in such a way that the baby is motionless and calm, ideally it is advisable for the newborn to sleep. Hearing is explored in complete silence. It is important, among other things, that the baby does not suck any dummy. This can introduce additional noise and distort the results of the study.
So, what information does audiological screening of a newborn receive?
Screening results and their interpretation
In modern instruments with which surveys are carried out, screening results can be displayed on the scoreboard in the form of inscriptions. In the event that everything is in order and the child has passed the examination, PASS will be displayed. But in the event that if the baby has hearing problems and the results are doubtful, the inscription will be in the form of the word REFFER. True, this is not a ready-made diagnosis, all the results of the screening procedure are only speculative. With the help of this device, children who have very likely (but not at all necessary) certain auditory abnormalities are selected. Such babies need a targeted examination. In the event that the baby is screened, then at this stage his examination is guaranteed to be completed. In situations where a small patient has failed this study, he is referred to a specialist to determine if he has any hearing impairment.
So, if suddenly the result of audiological screening of newborns is dubious, and a deviation was found directly in the maternity hospital, then what should be done next? First of all, it is necessary to repeat the first stage of the same examination by a doctor, but not in the hospital, but in the clinic. In the event that the repeated screening result (registration of acoustic emission) is again unsatisfactory, the pediatrician will refer the baby to the audiological office, and also to the hearing center, where the second stage will be carried out along with an aimed and in-depth study. In situations where the child is at risk, even if the screening result is good, he is still referred for consultation and an additional examination. These kids will not be examined at all by pediatricians, but by special specialists - otolaryngologists and deaf experts.
REFFER result (failed) for newborn screening
A negative result of this type of screening is not a sentence for a child. This technique has a known error, sometimes this procedure is simply incorrectly performed by the personnel of the medical institution.
Often the cause of the “failed” result is passing, and at the same time, harmless conditions in the form of epithelial and sulfur masses in the auditory canal, acute and exudative otitis media, and more. After the elimination of these conditions, children can safely re-pass audiological screening. Negative results are only an excuse to carry out further research, and do not act as the final verdict.
Currently, in modern medical centers, audiologists conduct audiological screenings per month of a child’s life, and if necessary, perform a full study of the degree of hearing in children of any age.
Risk factors: which babies need additional tests?
In the event that there are no congenital hearing problems or genetic pathologies in the family, then, most likely, the examination of the baby will be limited only to the first stage of screening. However, there are still certain risk factors for the formation of hearing loss, and in addition, complete deafness in children. These include burdened heredity in the event that the family has deaf and dumb relatives, along with other children who have auditory problems. And also when one of the parents has deviations. An additional examination is also shown for those children born to those mothers who suffered viral or microbial infections during pregnancy (rubella, measles, or, for example, flu, and so on). Similar is possible in cases when there was severe toxicosis of pregnancy.
Who else needs such an examination? A hearing examination is necessary for deeply premature babies who were at birth weighing less than one and a half kilograms or suffered asphyxiation during childbirth. Risk of getting hearing problems, in addition, children in the event of a postponed pregnancy, as well as those who have a Rhesus conflict with hemolytic disease. The risk group, among other things, includes babies whose mothers during pregnancy used drugs that have ototoxicity, that is, they affect the hearing organs of the fetus.
What can be revealed during the screening?
Let's consider this question in more detail.
Carrying out audiological screening for newborns allows you to identify almost any abnormalities in the outer, middle and inner ear. For example, in the process of such a study, conductive and, in addition, sensorineural hearing loss are sometimes detected along with partial hearing loss and even deafness. Thanks to such an early diagnosis of hearing impairment, it is possible to quickly help children, which will contribute to their normal maturation and further development.
Babies who have not passed the first stage of audiological screening are sent to specialized centers in which specialists continue to work with them. In the event that auditory impairment is nevertheless confirmed, it is not worth despairing at all. The fact is that modern methods of rehabilitation, along with prosthetics, can almost completely restore the child’s hearing and correct it as much as possible. Timely parental contact with specialists in combination with the right treatment will allow the baby to grow and develop, not lagging behind their peers.
What is this order number 108 on audiological screening of newborns? Let's consider further.
Order number 108 - what is it about?
The problem of early detection of auditory impairment in children was put at the state level. So, in 2007, the audiological screening of children of the first year of life was included in the list of pathologies detected. In the same year, Order No. 108 “On Standards for Dispensary Observation of Children” was published. Since 2008, all maternity hospitals along with children's clinics have begun to equip devices that help conduct audiological screening of newborns. The audiological screening program for newborns by order No. 108 includes two stages:
- The first stage is screening. At this stage, an audiological examination is carried out in maternity hospitals for absolutely all newborns aged from three to four days by recording acoustic emission with a special device.
- The second stage of audiological screening of newborns by order is diagnostic and is carried out for children in whom acoustic emission was not recorded in the first stage (that is, for those babies who had negative results). At this stage, the examination is also carried out for all children who have certain risk factors.
Audiological screening for a baby per month
It is important to note that audiological screening is very important for newborns during the first month of their life. This is best done on the third or fourth day of life or immediately before discharge from the maternity hospital. As such, there are no contraindications to this examination for children.
Thus, the methodology of audiological screening for children, as noted earlier, is carried out in two stages. At the first stage, all children are examined in the maternity hospital, using a special technique for recording acoustic emissions. In the event that this screening of the newborn was not performed in the maternity hospital or the corresponding mark in the statement is missing (or there is no evidence in the map of child development), then this study must be performed as part of the observation of the child in the clinic.
All parents try to provide the baby with the maximum level of quality medical care to make sure that the child’s systems and organs are functioning properly and that everything is fine with the baby. For this purpose, a number of screening studies are carried out for newborn children and toddlers under the age of one year, which is carried out in maternity hospitals, and in addition, clinics in the community. An especially important screening element is audiological, which consists of a hearing test and is performed in several special stages.
We examined what it is - audiological screening of newborns. When and why this procedure is carried out, it has now become clear.