Present condition of the universal newborn infant hearing screening in saitama prefecture, and early intervention
Abstract
Automatic ABR was introduced into Japan in 1997, and Universal Newborn Hearing Screening of a newborn infant term was enabled. The model research study of hearing screening in Japan was started 2001, and Saitama Prefecture was started the inspection research from October 2002. Many newborn babies started received hearing screening from 1999 in our medical center and also at the obstetrics.
The number of the children screened was about 40,000 by October 2003. It was 249 cases and average consultation age was after-the-birth of 21 days. As a result of conducting a close examination, for 135 cases and progress observation, the number of those without abnormalities false positive of 76 cases and the cases of early intervention was 38.
Only by discovery of hearing loss is meaningless, a pregnant woman is confused if the next measure is not solid. This research had many professional involve which are an otorhinolaryngologist, a pediatrician, nurse, a public healthcare nurse, a various types of industry, a speech therapist, an educational persons, and administration, but there were many problems. We discuss the experience by present; a future problem is reported to this research about a definite diagnosis, early intervention of newborn infant sensoneural hearing loss at this time.