한국 신생아 및 영아 청각 검사 현황: 3개월 전국 조사

Abstract

Objectives：The aim of study is to estimate the prevalence of newborn with hearing impairment in Korea.

Materials and Methods：A three-month prospective study of infants hearing screened at the selected nation-wide hospitals from June 1st through September 30th, 2006 was performed. We have distributed checklist books before beginning of the study and collected the results later. The automated auditory brainstem response (AABR) or otoacoustic emissions (OAEs) were used as the screening tools in the screening hospitals which were composed of mainly primary hospitals of obstetrics and gynecology (OBGY). Referred cases were confirmed at the confirming hospitals which were made up of mostly otorhinolaryngology department of general hospitals by standard auditory brainstem response (ABR) method, by which the criterion of unilateral or bilateral hearing impairment was chiefly determined by 30 dB or 40 dBHL.

Results：The total infants screened were 21,152 and referred to confirming hospitals were 252 (1.2%) in screening hospitals. Eighty-nine (35.9%) of referred cases visited in confirming hospitals and twenty-eight infants were diagnosed as hearing impairment. In screening hospitals, the referral rate of OBGY department was 0.45% and one of otorhinolaryngology was 5.96%.

Conclusion：The national presumptive incidence of newborn and infants hearing impaired was 0.33%. The reasons for the lower referral rate in OBGY department were considered largely the effects of persons to perform screening test. For Korean screening tests of hearing impairment, it is important to conduct quality control including standard protocols and primary hospital based education programs.