Name: Dr Mariam. M. Alkandari
Consultant Audiovestibular physician
Name: Dr Basel Al Sabah
Consultant ORL- HNS.
Name: Dr Mutlaq AlSihan
Consultant ORL- HNS,
Name: Dr Samah Araky
MD Audiovestibular physician, Senior Specialist
Name: Dr Mariam Ayed
MD FAAP.FRCPC, Neonatal Consultant, Neonatal neurocritical care consultant.
Name: AuD. Fahad Y. Almethen
Chief Audiologist and Speech- language Pathologist
Name: Aida Jacob
Ms Audiology, Senior Specialist
Name: Muhammad Javed Iqbal
Ms Audiology, Specialist Audiology
Sheikh Salem Al Ali Center/ Zain Hospital/ Neonatology Department/ Sabah Area. Kuwait.
Universal newborn hearing screening in Kuwait (UNHS) National Program
Abstract
Hearing loss is one of most important disorders to be identified and managed as early as possible, especially in newborns infants and children group, in order to prevent the serious complications that can follow it. The prevalence of hearing loss is increasing all over the world every year. It is known that, the prevalence is 1-3 in 1000 born children for severe to profound hearing loss, while if we considered the other degrees (mild and moderate), then the percentage will increase, may be ten folds. In Kuwait our National universal hearing screening in newborns started in 2013 and is going on. Data collected over around 10 years. The first screening is done before discharging the mother with her baby from the hospital. Failed first screening had been scheduled for second screening at the age of one month. Failed the second screening were immediately scheduled for diagnostic assessment including all objective tests. Taking into consideration, that all at risk of hearing loss babies on first screening even if passed, the newborns were scheduled for long follow up in sheikh Salem Al Ali Center for hearing and speech in Kuwait. First screening results showed total birth 105,657, out of which NHS 81976 (77.6%). Passed cases were 72,305 (88.2%), while failed cases 9671 (11.8%) and missed in 23681 (28.9%). Total male showed 42054 (51.3%), while females showed 39922 (48.7%). Kuwaiti nationality showed total of 22060 (26.9%), while higher number of non- Kuwaiti nationality detected 59916 (73.1%). The second screening results showed, 4284 (44.3%) passed, while the failed test was 5387 (55.7%). Out of the referred cases of the second screening, Conductive hearing loss found to be 1369 (14.2%), 280 (2.9%) showed to have SNHL,12 (0.12) diagnosed as congenital ear anomalies (external and/ or middle ear problems), cases not shown up were 3726 (38.5%).
Keywords: Hearing screening, newborns, AABR & TEOAE, SNHL, CHL, ear congenital anomalies.
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