National Newborn Hearing Screening Program in Turkey: Struggles and implementations between 2004 and 2008
Received 3 March 2009; received in revised form 31 July 2009; accepted 6 August 2009.
Abstract
Objective
In this review, we have presented the data of our National Newborn Hearing Screening Program (NNHSP) with total 764,352 newborns those screened in last five years.
Methods
National Newborn Hearing Screening Program (NNHSP) has been conducted in Turkey since the year 2003. National Newborn Hearing Screening Program (NNHSP) had begun at the end of 2003 only in 1 center. After birth, in the third day, Transient Evoked Otoacoustic Emissions (TEOAEs) test criteria and if necessary, auditory brain response (ABR) testing evaluation methods were applied to newborn. The children diagnosed with hearing loss were further referred for advanced treatment and rehabilitation to advanced audiologic centers.
Results
After five years of carrying out the program (between 2004 and 2008) a total number of 764,352 newborns were screened for hearing impairment. In the year 2008, National Newborn Hearing Screening Program (NNHSP) had given the chance for 2136 children with various types of hearing loss (320 with unilateral and 417 with bilateral hearing loss) to detect and refer to more experienced centers for further treatment.
Conclusions
Our results indicate that the necessity of newborn hearing screening is an indispensable issue. We have been targeted to develop National Newborn Hearing Screening Program (NNHSP) till given chance to access for every newborn in Turkey in next five years.
Directorate General for Mother & Children's Health and Family Planning, Ministry of Health, 06660 Ankara, Turkey
Corresponding author at: Department of Children and Adolescents’ Health, Ministry of Health, 06660 Ankara, Turkey. Tel.: +90 312 435 7663; fax: +90 312 431 4872.
ABSTRACT