Description
Objectives
To evaluate the specificity, sensitivity and efficiency of the Auditory Brainstem Response (ABR) as a selective neonatal hearing screen.
Methods
A group of 417 neonates who spent more than 24 hours in a special care baby unit (SCBU) were screened by ABR. 353 were followed to school entry. Both ears were tested independently at 30 and 65 dBnHL. Screen results were categorised as pass, or one of the five categories of fail. Failures were retested by full diagnostic ABR and/or distraction testing. Passes were returned to the routine universal screen by distraction testing at 8 months and sweep audiometry at school entry. The comparison group comprised 113 children born in the study period but not requiring SCBU who were subsequently found to be hearing impaired. The efficiency of the neonatal screen was compared with that of the Universal screen.
