Referral rates for newborn hearing screening based on the test time

Objectives: To suggest the optimal timing for newborn hearing screening to obtain an ideal and stable referral rate in well babies and in babies in neonatal intensive care units (NICU).

Methods: This study analyzed nationwide hearing screening data of 71,596 newborns in the low-income families who received support from the government in 2017. The referral rate for neonatal hearing screening, based on the period from birth to screening, was compared in well babies (n = 68,206) who were born healthy or hospitalized in the NICU for < 5 days and moved to a well-baby nursery and babies (n = 3,390) who were in the NICU for ≥ 5 days.

Results: In well babies, most screenings (73.1%) were performed in the first three days of life. Most babies (74%) in the NICU underwent screening within the first 20 days after birth. The referral rates for babies at 32-60 days after birth differed from those of other screening days, except for the rates at 21-31 days after birth. Referral rates for NHS at > 60 days after birth were significantly higher than those for other periods in babies overall. However, the incidence of hearing loss according to age did not differ significantly within or between groups.

Conclusions: Referral rates based on the period from birth to screening were significantly different between well babies and NICU babies. To reduce and ensure stable referral rates, we recommend that the hearing screening be performed between 2 and 20 days after birth for well babies and between 5 and 31 days after birth for NICU babies.