Neonatal hearing screening and follow-up outcomes in 2286 cases

WANG Ting; WEN Yanling; LI Yue; ZOU Yihui

doi:10.3969/j.issn.1672-2922.2025.09.005

Abstract：Objective To report the results of neonatal hearing screening and follow-up outcomes in 2286 cases.Methods Initial screening was conducted using distortion product otoacoustic emission(DPOAE).Infants who failed the initial screening underwent rescreening at 42 days postnatal using a combination of DPOAE and automated auditory brainstem response(AABR).Telephone follow-ups were conducted in 77 newborns who missed the initial screening and in 30 cases that failed the initial screening but did not undergo timely rescreening.Screening and follow-up results were analyzed.Results The initial screening rate was 97.5%,with a pass rate of 94.8%.The rate of rescreening was 89.2%,with a rescreening pass rate of 70.1%.The initial pass rate for the right ear(96.7%)was higher than that for the left ear(95.2%).Female infants had a higher initial pass rate(96.1%)compared to males(93.5%).Among the 107 cases rescreened using the DPOAE combined with AABR method(214 ears),the failure rate(19.6%)was higher than that using DPOAEs or AABRs alone(7.5%).From 2019 to 2023,the rate of telephone follow-up in newborns who missed the initial screening was 87.0%,and 96.7%in infants who failed initial screening and did not undergo timely rescreening.Conclusions This center met guideline requirements for the rates of initial screening,screening pass,and rescreening compliance.Gender and ear laterality influenced initial screening outcomes.The DPOAE combined with AABR method improved rescreening sensitivity,supporting its use to reduce missed diagnoses.The below 100%follow-up rates highlight the need for enhanced tracking systems and targeted education to optimize neonatal hearing care and minimize risks of delayed intervention.