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Abstract
The objective of this study was to evaluate key outcomes of a universal hearing screen/rescreen
program for all births with transient evoked otoacoustic emissions in all 8 maternity
hospitals in the state of Rhode Island over a 4-year period.
This was a retrospective analysis of the hearing screen/rescreen refer data collected
prospectively for 53,121 survivors born in Rhode Island between January 1, 1993, and
December 31, 1996. Primary outcomes included the first-stage refer rates, rescreen
compliance, diagnostic referral rates, identification rates, and the age of amplification.
During this 4-year time period 11 infants were identified with permanent hearing loss,
resulting in an impairment rate of 2 per 1000. The mean age of hearing loss confirmation
decreased from 8.7 months to 3.5 months, and the age at amplification declined from
13.3 months to 5.7 months.
We conclude that time and experience are important factors in the development and
refinement of a universal hearing screen program. Hearing screen outcome data collected
over a 4-year period in Rhode Island reveal a steady improvement in the percent of
infants completing the 2-stage screen process, the stage 1 and stage 2 refer rates,
compliance with rescreen and diagnostic testing, and significant improvement in the
age of identification and age of amplification.