{Reference Type}: Journal Article
{Title}: Follow-up on children with suspected bilateral congenital hearing loss identified through universal newborn hearing screening program in Taiwan: A national-based population study.
{Author}: Hsieh WH;Lin HC;Hsieh WH;Lin HC;Hsieh WH;Lin HC;
{Journal}: Int J Pediatr Otorhinolaryngol
{Volume}: 157
{Issue}: 0
{Year}: Jun 2022
{Factor}: 1.626
{DOI}: 10.1016/j.ijporl.2022.111141
{Abstract}: <B>OBJECTIVE: </B>This investigation was to ascertain the performance of the UNHS in Taiwan.<BR><B>METHODS: </B>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.<BR><B>RESULTS: </B>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.<BR><B>CONCLUSIONS: </B>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.