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 test along with ultrasound examinations of the baby. This makes it possible to timely identify various serious he alth problems and begin their correction. Based on the screening results, children with any deviations in he alth are selected, who are prescribed a detailed, and at the same time, an in-depth examination.
Audiological screening: what is it?
This procedure makes it possible to detect hearing loss at an early stage, which means that it is possible to treat or correct failures in a timely manner using a hearing aid. Why is it important? It should be noted that without normal hearing,the baby will not develop normally and form speech functions.
Statistical data 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, since through it he receives all the information. For the purpose of early detection of a hearing defect, newborns undergo audiological screening.
It can be performed already on the second or third day of the baby's life. Conducting neonatal audiological screening is an opportunity to diagnose the problem in time, taking all the necessary measures that will certainly help the baby learn the language in order to further adapt to society. Now let's find out when and where this type of research of babies is carried out.
What is it - audiological screening of newborns, the photo shows.
When and where is this procedure carried out?
Since 2008, hearing testing has been included in the list of mandatory medical interventions.
People often ask where to get an audiological screening for a child.
This is directly related to the fact that it is extremely difficult to detect this or that deviation using standard methods, and hearing impairment, which is congenital, significantly affects the psychophysical development of children. In this regard, today they use a special miniature device for audiological screening, whichallows you to quickly and painlessly check whether the baby hears or not.
This screening of newborns is carried out within three to four days or immediately before the baby is discharged from the maternity hospital, there are no contraindications to this examination as such. The audiological screening method is carried out in two steps. The first step is an examination in the maternity hospital. For all babies, a special “OAE” technique is used, 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 card) about its result, then this study is required to be carried out as part of the observation of the child within the children's clinic. Now let's find out why this research method is required.
Why we need information about audiological screening of a newborn, we will tell further.
Why do children even need this screening?
The main purpose of this mass examination seems to be the detection of congenital or acquired in childbirth or immediately after them, in the first few days of life, hearing problems. This is required in order to provide immediate assistance to children, including with the use of modern high technologies. Children develop and form the ability to comprehend and understand speech, and then babies pronounce the first words along with phrases due to the fact that they have the opportunity to hear the speech of their parents, and in addition, the people around them. In addition, their development is stimulated by a variety of sound stimuli of living, as well as inanimate nature.
In the event that children have even a slight hearing loss, this can threaten with serious difficulties in the perception of any speech information. Because of this, the development of special brain centers can be disrupted: speech and auditory. This screening is assigned to absolutely all children in order to timely detect hearing loss, which is directly related to the fact that corrective measures that are carried out in the first three to six months of life become especially effective.
In the event that audiological screening was not carried out at the maternity hospital, then it is necessary to check exactly how the baby hears, without fail until 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 not always possible to restore hearing. And this circumstance, in the worst case, threatens the baby with deaf-mutism. Next, let's talk about the features of this procedure.
What is it - audiological newborn screening, interesting to many parents.
What are the features of this procedure?
Children are examined by a neonatologist. This specialist is trained in audiological screening techniques. The doctor uses a device that automatically registers otoacoustic emissions. In addition, a specialist uses a special electric acoustic probe. On himthere is a miniature resemblance of a telephone along with a special, highly sensitive microphone. The devices are connected in the form of a sealed ear bud.
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 not crying). This probe is attached to a device that registers acoustic emission. The doctor tries to do everything in such a way that the baby is motionless and calm, ideally, it is desirable for the newborn to sleep. Hearing is examined in complete silence. It is important, among other things, that the baby does not suck on any pacifier. This may introduce additional noise and distort the results of the study.
So, what information do you get from an audiological screening of a newborn?
Screening results and their interpretation
In modern devices used for examinations, the results of screening 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 study, the inscription PASS will be displayed. But in the event that the baby has problems with hearing, and the results are doubtful, then the inscription will be in the form of the word REFFER. True, this is not a ready-made diagnosis at all, all the results of the screening procedure are only hypothetical. With the help of this device, children are selected who are very likely (but not at all obligatory) to have certain hearing impairments. Such babies need a targeted examination. In case the babyscreening, then at this stage his examination is guaranteed to be completed. In situations where a small patient did not pass this study, he is sent to a specialist in order to clarify whether he has any hearing impairments.
So, if suddenly the result of audiological screening of newborns is doubtful, and a deviation was revealed directly in the maternity hospital, then what to do next? First of all, it is necessary to re-pass the first stage of the same examination by a doctor, but not in the maternity hospital, but in the clinic. In the event that the repeated screening result (registration of acoustic emission) is again unsatisfactory, the pediatrician will send the baby to the audiology room, and in addition, to the hearing center, where the second stage will be carried out along with a targeted and in-depth study. In situations where the child is at risk, even if the screening result was good, he is still referred for a consultation and an additional stage of examination. Such babies will no longer be examined by pediatricians, but by special specialists - otolaryngologists and audiologists.
REFFER Result at Newborn Screening
A negative result of this type of screening is not a death sentence for a child. This technique has a known error, sometimes this procedure is simply incorrectly performed by the staff of a medical institution.
Often the reason for the result "failed" are passing, and at the same time harmless conditions in the formepithelial and sulfuric masses in the ear canal, acute and exudative otitis, and more. After the elimination of these conditions, children can safely re-pass audiological screening. Negative results are only a reason to carry out further research, and do not act as a final verdict.
Currently, in modern medical centers, audiologists perform audiological screening in the month of a child's life, and, if necessary, perform a complete study of the degree of hearing in babies of any age.
Risk factors: Which babies need more testing?
If 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-mute close relatives along with other children with hearing problems. And also when there is a deviation from one of the parents. An additional examination is also shown for those children who were born from those mothers who suffered viral or microbial infections during pregnancy (rubella, or measles, or, for example, influenza, and so on). This is also possible in cases where there was severe toxicosis of pregnancy.
Who else needs such a survey? A hearing test is necessary for very premature babies who weighed less than one and a half at birth.kilograms or suffered asphyxia during childbirth. At risk of getting hearing problems, in addition, children in case of a post-term pregnancy, as well as those who have a Rh-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 a screening reveal?
Let's consider this question in more detail.
Audiological screening for newborns can detect almost any abnormality 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 revealed along with partial hearing loss and even deafness. By diagnosing hearing loss so early, it is possible to quickly provide assistance to babies, 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 where specialists work with them in the future. In the event that hearing impairment is nevertheless confirmed, you should not despair at all. The fact is that modern rehabilitation methods, along with prosthetics, make it possible to almost completely restore a child’s hearing and correct it as much as possible. Timely parental referral to specialists in combination with the right treatmentwill allow the baby to grow and develop, keeping up with their peers.
What is order 108 about newborn audiological screening? Consider further.
Order No. 108 - what is it about?
The problem of early detection of hearing impairment in children was raised to the state level. Thus, in 2007, the list of detected pathologies included audiological screening of children in the first year of life. In the same year, Order No. 108 "On the standards of dispensary observation of children" was issued. Starting in 2008, all maternity hospitals, along with children's polyclinics, began to be equipped with devices that help conduct audiological screening of newborns. The program of audiological screening of 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 three to four days by recording acoustic emission with a special device.
- The second stage audiological screening of newborns by order is diagnostic and is carried out for children in whom acoustic emissions were not recorded at the first stage (that is, those babies who had negative results). At this stage, the survey is also carried out in relation to all children who have certain risk factors.
Audiological screening, which is performed on a child a month
It is important to note that audiological screening is very important for newborns during the first monththeir lives. It is best to do this on the third or fourth day of life or just before discharge from the maternity hospital. As such, there are no contraindications for this examination for children.
Thus, the method of audiological screening for children, as noted earlier, is carried out in two steps. At the first stage, absolutely all children are examined in the maternity hospital, using a special method for registering acoustic emission. In the event that this screening of the newborn was not performed at the maternity hospital or there is no corresponding mark in the extract (or there is no evidence in the child development card), 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 normally and everything is fine with the baby. For this purpose, newborns and toddlers under the age of one year are undergoing a number of screening studies, which are carried out in maternity hospitals, and in addition, in polyclinics at the place of residence. A particularly important element of screening is audiological, which consists of a hearing test and is performed in several special stages.
We looked at what it is - audiological screening of newborns. When and why this procedure is carried out, now it has become clear.
