Programa de Triagem Auditiva em crianças de risco em um Serviço de Saúde Auditiva de São Paulo

Abstract

A National Policy on Hearing Health Care was established in September 2004 in Brazil, giving the opportunity to structure health services in different levels of complexity, developing actions regarding prevention, detection, diagnosis and intervention of hearing problems in all ages. The present study describes the findings of an Infant Hearing Screening Program performed in a Hearing Health Service;55 high risk children, referred by a maternity hospital in São Paulo were evaluated. The methodology includes interview with mothers and the Hearing Screening, using Transient Evoked Otoacoustic Emissions (TEOAE), Distortion Product Otoacoustic Emissions (DPOAE), Auditory Brainstem Response (ABR), and eye blink reflex. The Hearing Screening attendancy rate was 76% (42 infants). The Hearing Loss prevalence was 14.3%, and all children showed conductive hearing loss. The most effective procedures in order to identify conductive hearing loss were TEOAE and ABR, when used together. The group who attended the screening program had lower weight, larger period of NICU hospitalization, higher number of risk indicators, less children in the family, higher family income per person and higher number of pre natal visits when compared to those who did not attend the screening test. No children with Sensorineural Hearing Loss were found, probably due to the sample s size. The findings show that Hearing Screening is viable to be conducted in Hearing Health Centers, if maternity staff is well committed with the Hearing Screening Program