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Correspondence

Indian Pediatr 2016;53: 441-442

Is Newborn Hearing Screening Worthwhile in India?

 

Supriya Rastogi

Division of Neonatology, Max Super Speciality Hospital,
Shalimar Bagh, Delhi, India.
Email: [email protected]

 

  

We congratulate and appreciate Dr Paul for setting up a newborn hearing screening program in Kerala, and reporting about it [1]. If it has to be replicated in other areas of the country a few more details are needed. Is the charge of Rs 150 per child, a one-time payment, and does it cover repeat tests in those who need it. Was the program supported by any grant? 

The author had screened 1,01,688 babies, out of which 15123 failed the first test and of these 1,634 babies failed the second screen. Finally, deafness was diagnosed in 162. Assuming no further charges were made for repeat tests, the cost of detecting one case of deafness works out to be approximately Rs. 100,000. In addition, unnecessary anxiety may be caused to 15% of the mothers who were informed that their child had failed the hearing test initially.

Only profound hearing defects are picked up by these screening tests. The author states that hearing loss must be detected before 6 months of age. Most mothers would easily pick up the cues of lack of responsiveness to sound before the child reaches the age of 6 months. One wonders if this screen is really useful and cost-effective in India.

Reference

1. Paul AK. Centralized newborn hearing screening in Ernakulam, Kerala- Experience over a decade. Indian Pediatr. 2016;53:15-7.

 

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