Maternal knowledge and attitudes to universal newborn hearing screening: Reviewing an established program.

Objectives: To facilitate early diagnosis of infants with hearing loss, a universal newborn hearing screening program (UNHS) has been implemented in Hong Kong's public hospitals for over a decade. However, there have been no known studies investigating parent attitudes to, and satisfaction with, UNHS since its launch in Hong Kong. The present study aimed to investigate knowledge of UNHS as well as infant hearing development, and attitudes and satisfaction with UNHS, in Hong Kong mothers with newborns.

Improving newborn hearing screening: Are automated auditory brainstem response ear inserts an effective option?

Objective: Universal newborn hearing screening is an established practice among Hong Kong public hospitals using a 2-stage automated auditory brainstem response (AABR) screening protocol. To enhance overall efficiency without sacrificing program accuracy, cost reduction in terms of replacing the initial ear coupler-based screening with a more economical ear insert-based screening procedure was considered. This study examined the utility of an insert-based AABR initial screening approach and the projected cost-effectiveness of a combined probe-based plus follow-up ear coupler AABR screening procedure.

Paradoxical hypertension and salt wasting in Type II Bartter syndrome.

Ante/neonatal Bartter syndrome (BS) is a rare hereditary disorder. It is characterized by renal salt wasting, hypokalaemic metabolic alkalosis, high renin and aldosterone but normal blood pressure. We report a low birth weight newborn baby who presented with repeated apnoea shortly after birth as well as hyponatraemia, hypochloraemia, hyperkalaemia and metabolic acidosis.