UNIVERSAL NEONATAL HEARING SCREENING IN THE INSTITUTE OF CHILD AND ADOLESCENT HEALTH                       

Sargsyan A (1), Movsesova N (2), Gevorkyan A (2), Shukuryan A (1), Babayan L (2), Manukyan T (2).

(1) State Medical University of Armenia; (2) Institute of child and adolescent health. Yerevan, Armenia.                       

We have about 40.000 newborns in Armenia every year. According to international data, among every 1000 newborns there are one or two deaf children. Consequently, every year in Armenia the number of deaf children is from 40 to 80 newborns. In Armenia there is only one children audiologi-cal centre, which observe all children in Armenia. In the centre only 2 deaf children until one year old and 10 children in age group from one to three years old have been detected in 2008. Such situation wouldn’t allow us to begin early rehabilitation of deaf children, to provide them with hearing aids and speech therapy in time.

Since June 2008,  a pilot- program of neonatal hearing screening have been begun in two maternity hospitals. The pilot-program was established on the governmental level. There is an intention to widespread it over the whole Republic.

Here are the screening results in one of these maternity hospitals.

Methods of examination: OAE, ABR.

There were observed 1497 newborns. During following examination the diagnose was submitted in 5 cases: tree children had profound hearing loss and 2 children- middle hearing loss.

All revealed children have been provided with hearing aids. They are under our permanent observation in the centre. The special rehabilitation multidisciplinary group works with them and their parents.

Conclusion: Despite our work is just the beginning and there is a lot to do yet, but results which we have already got shows us the necessity of it.

Keywords:  UNHS, Transient Evoked Otoacoustic Emissions,  ABR, Hearing loss

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