Unlabelled: Despite the introduction of universal newborn hearing screening (UNHS), unilateral hearing loss (UHL) is sometimes recognized late. This diagnostic delay has adverse repercussions, given the importance of binaural hearing for the development of normal auditory processing. It is incorrect to maintain that unilateral hearing is the minimum requirement for adequate speech development and that hearing aid provision is consequently unnecessary.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFFrom the actual point of view, the "sensitive period" for the effects of hearing impairment on speech and language development is within the first year of life. Early exposure to acoustic or electric stimulation can compensate for the acoustic deficit. A regional-based, specifically designed concept of a universal newborn hearing screening (UNHS) was started in Hamburg in the year 2002.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPreviously presented results of the newborn hearing screening in Hamburg and the perspectives are subsequently discussed. Minimum standards referring a participation of 95% of the neonates and a fail rate of less than 4% hearing-impaired children at the primary screening are fulfilled in Hamburg. Systematic screening of newborn hearing by an interdisciplinary approach provides early identification and intervention for children with permanent unilateral and bilateral hearing loss.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAuditory neuropathy presents with normal otoacoustic emissions combined with pathological findings in brainstem evoked response audiometry. Normally, the auditory neuropathy is bilateral. We report about a 9 year old child where we could diagnose a unilateral deafness in spite of regular TEOAE and DPOAE.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIn comparison with organic hearing loss, which is commonly reported, non-organic hearing loss is under-represented in the literature. The audiological results for 20 patients, aged between 6 and 17 years (mean 11.3), with psychogenic hearing disturbances were analysed prospectively.
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