Pediatria pre prax 1/2011

The effect of universal newborn hearing screening in early diagnostic of hearing loss in Slovakia

More than 80 % of permanent hearing losses in children are congenital. Early detection of hearing loss is the most important, because the hearing loss causes mental and speech delay. UNHS is useful for early detection and treatment of hearing loss. The NHS has a universal character, when are screened at least 95 % of newborns with implemented legislation in country. When the NHS is not universal, more than 30 % hearing loss are undiscovered. In Slovakia UNHS is on legislation from May 1, 2006. Bilateral permanent hearing loss in Slovakia was diagnosed before UNHS in 0,588/1000 newborn, after UNHS in 1,168/1000 newborn, what is 50 % more discovered hearing losses, also average of the age diagnosis decreased from 12 month to 6 month of age.

Keywords: UNHS, TEOAE, diagnostic of hearing loss.