%0 Journal Article
%T Follow-up on children with suspected bilateral congenital hearing loss identified through universal newborn hearing screening program in Taiwan: A national-based population study.
%A Hsieh WH
%A Lin HC
%A Hsieh WH
%A Lin HC
%A Hsieh WH
%A Lin HC
%J Int J Pediatr Otorhinolaryngol
%V 157
%N 0
%D Jun 2022
%M 35461145
%F 1.626
%R 10.1016/j.ijporl.2022.111141
%X OBJECTIVE: This investigation was to ascertain the performance of the UNHS in Taiwan.
METHODS: The predefined questionnaire was delivered on the phone in 2016. The descriptive analysis was applied to the research data. 941 neonates in birth cohorts 2013-2014 who were documented as a bilateral referral in the national UNHS tracking system were targeted. The respondents were either caregivers or family members.
RESULTS: 40.3% of 941 children were lost to follow-up, and 66.24% of 363 children were diagnosed with SNHL. 45.15% of 163 children used hearing amplification device(s). 77.46% of hearing amplification device users and 7.51% of non-users participated in the auditory training courses. By six months of age, 38.51% and 22.58% of children diagnosed with bilateral SNHL commenced the hearing amplification device fitting and the auditory training courses, respectively.
CONCLUSIONS: More efforts are needed to enhance the performance of the UNHS to achieve national goals stated in the 2014 Taiwan UNHS Revised Guidelines and the well-known benchmarks set by the JCIH in 2007. The development of an electronic tracking system for storing and sharing information on the follow-up on children with congenital hearing loss was as significant as the improvements in the understanding of early hearing detection and intervention of the public and stakeholders.