Implementation of Newborn Hearing Screening in Albania.

Newborn hearing screening (NHS) was implemented in Albania in four maternity hospitals in 2018 and 2019. Implementation outcome, screening outcome, and screening quality measures were evaluated. Infants were first screened by midwives and nurses before discharge from the maternity hospital and returned for follow-up screening.

Modelling the cost-effectiveness of a newborn hearing screening programme; usability and pitfalls.

Objective: The EUSCREEN project concerns the study of European vision and hearing screening programmes. Part of the project was the development of a cost-effectiveness model to analyse such programmes. We describe the development and usability of an online tool to enable stakeholders to design, analyse or modify a newborn hearing screening (NHS) programme.

Assessment of hearing screening programmes across 47 countries or regions III: provision of childhood hearing screening after the newborn period.

Objective: To inventory provision and features of childhood hearing screening after the newborn period (CHS), primarily in Europe.

Design: From each participating country or region, experts provided information through an extensive questionnaire: implementation year, age at screening, test method, pass criteria, screening location, screener profession, and quality indicators: coverage, referral, follow-up and detection rates, supplemented by literature sources.

Study Sample: Forty-two European countries or regions, plus Russia, Malawi, Rwanda, India, and China.

Assessment of hearing screening programmes across 47 countries or regions I: provision of newborn hearing screening.

Objectives: Newborn hearing screening (NHS) varies regarding number and type of tests, location, age, professionals and funding. We compared the provision of existing screening programmes.

Design: A questionnaire containing nine domains: demography, administration, existing screening, coverage, tests, diagnosis, treatment, cost and adverse effects, was presented to hearing screening experts.

Assessment of hearing screening programmes across 47 countries or regions II: coverage, referral, follow-up and detection rates from newborn hearing screening.

Objectives: To assess the performance of newborn hearing screening (NHS) programmes, through selected quality measures and their relationship to protocol design.

Design: NHS coverage, referral, follow-up and detection rates were aggregated. Referral rates were compared to age at screening step 1, number of steps, and test method: OAE or aABR.

Cost-Effectiveness of Neonatal Hearing Screening Programs: A Micro-Simulation Modeling Analysis.

Objectives: Early detection of neonatal hearing impairment moderates the negative effects on speech and language development. Universal neonatal hearing screening protocols vary in tests used, timing of testing and the number of stages of screening. This study estimated the cost-effectiveness of various protocols in the preparation of implementation of neonatal hearing screening in Albania.

Implementation of a neonatal hearing screening programme in three provinces in Albania.

Objectives: The EUSCREEN study compares the cost-effectiveness of paediatric hearing screening programmes and aims to develop a cost-effectiveness model for this purpose. Alongside and informed by the development of the model, neonatal hearing screening (NHS) is implemented in Albania. We report on the first year.

Prevalence of permanent neonatal hearing impairment: systematic review and Bayesian meta-analysis.

To investigate the variance in reported prevalence rates of permanent neonatal hearing impairment (HI) worldwide. A systematic review and meta-analysis was performed on reported prevalence rates of sensorineural and permanent conductive or mixed HI worse than 40 dB in neonates, detected as a result of a screening programme or audiometric study. For meta-analysis, 35 articles were selected, 25 from high-income countries and 10 from middle-income countries according to the world bank classification system.

Reliability and validity of the Dutch pediatric Voice Handicap Index.

Introduction: The pediatric voice handicap index (pVHI) has been developed to provide a better insight into the parents' perception of their child's voice related quality of life. The purpose of the present study was to validate the Dutch pVHI by evaluating its internal consistency and reliability. Furthermore, we determined the optimal cut-off point for a normal pVHI score.

Voice outcome and voice-related quality of life after surgery for pediatric laryngotracheal stenosis.

Objectives: To evaluate the long-term outcome of voice quality and voice-related quality of life after open airway surgery for pediatric laryngotracheal stenosis.

Study Design: Prospective cohort study.

Methods: Children under the age of 18 years at time of follow-up and with a history of open airway surgery for acquired laryngotracheal stenosis were included in this analysis.

The feasibility of office-based propofol sedation for dental care in patients with intellectual disability by sedation practitioners.

Background: The quality of oral health care for intellectually disabled patients is a significant challenge due to behavioral issues. Intravenous propofol sedation may be useful to relieve the anxiety and fear, and make dental procedures more acceptable. The aim of this study was to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of propofol sedation, by trained nonmedical sedation practitioners, during dental treatments in an office-based setting.

Reliability of the reflux finding score for infants in flexible versus rigid laryngoscopy.

Objectives: The Reflux Finding Score for Infants (RFS-I) was developed to assess signs of laryngopharyngeal reflux (LPR) in infants. With flexible laryngoscopy, moderate inter- and highly variable intraobserver reliability was found. We hypothesized that the use of rigid laryngoscopy would increase reliability and therefore evaluated the reliability of the RFS-I for flexible versus rigid laryngoscopy in infants.

Robin sequence: A European survey on current practice patterns.

To provide an overview of current practice patterns with regard to Robin sequence (RS) patients in Europe, a survey was conducted among European clinicians. This online survey consisted of different sections assessing characteristics of the respondent and clinic, definition, diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up. In total, surveys from 101 different European clinics were included in the analysis, and 56 different RS definitions were returned.

Long-term functional airway assessment after open airway surgery for laryngotracheal stenosis.

Objectives/hypothesis: The purpose of this study was to evaluate our patient-reported and objective long-term outcomes of patients treated for laryngotracheal stenosis.

Study Design: Prospective cohort study.

Methods: Sixty-five patients were evaluated after a median follow-up of 7 years after surgery.

JS-X syndrome: A multiple congenital malformation with vocal cord paralysis, ear deformity, hearing loss, shoulder musculature underdevelopment, and X-linked recessive inheritance.

We report on a family with a not earlier described multiple congenital malformation. Several male family members suffer from laryngeal obstruction caused by bilateral vocal cord paralysis, outer and middle ear deformity with conductive and sensorineural hearing loss, facial dysmorphisms, and underdeveloped shoulder musculature. The affected female members only have middle ear deformity and hearing loss.

Inventory of current EU paediatric vision and hearing screening programmes.

Objective: To examine the diversity in paediatric vision and hearing screening programmes in Europe.

Methods: Themes for comparison of screening programmes derived from literature were used to compile three questionnaires on vision, hearing, and public health screening. Tests used, professions involved, age, and frequency of testing seem to influence sensitivity, specificity, and costs most.

Prevalence and characteristics of tracheal cobblestoning in children.

Background: Tracheal follicular pattern or so-called tracheal cobblestoning is a poorly described entity in the literature and is depicted as a nodular or lumpy appearance of the tracheal wall mucosa suggesting tracheal irritation from factors like gastro-esophageal reflux (GERD) or pulmonary infection. The aim of the present study was to investigate the prevalence and characteristics of tracheal cobblestones in a large pediatric population.

Methods: A large database of rigid tracheoscopies recorded in children (0-6 years of age) undergoing general anesthesia with planned tracheal intubation for elective surgical procedures was retrospectively analyzed.

Development of the reflux finding score for infants and its observer agreement.

Objective: It is hypothesized that laryngeal edema is caused by laryngopharyngeal reflux (LPR) (ie, gastroesophageal reflux extending into the larynx and pharynx). The validated reflux finding score (RFS) assesses LPR disease in adults. We, therefore, aimed to develop an adapted RFS for infants (RFS-I) and assess its observer agreement.

The prevalence of tracheal bronchus in pediatric patients undergoing rigid bronchoscopy.

Background: Tracheal bronchus (TB) is defined as an abnormal bronchus that originates directly from the lateral wall of the trachea above the carina and goes towards the upper lobe territory of the lung. We analyzed rigid endoscopies of the trachea in children to determine the incidence and characteristics of TB.

Methods: In total, 1021 rigid endoscopies of the trachea recorded from children aged 0 to 6 years were analyzed.

Unravelling Robin sequence: considerations of diagnosis and treatment.

Objectives/hypothesis: The airway management of children with Robin sequence is controversial. This study provides an overview of a single-center experience with the diagnosis and treatment of 59 children with Robin sequence.

Study Design: Retrospective cohort study.

How does obstructive sleep apnoea evolve in syndromic craniosynostosis? A prospective cohort study.

Objective: To describe the course of obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome (OSAS) in children with syndromic craniosynostosis.

Design: Prospective cohort study.

Setting: Dutch Craniofacial Centre from January 2007 to January 2012.

Endoscopic airway findings in children with or without prior endotracheal intubation.

Background: Airway alterations found after endotracheal intubation are usually associated with mechanical trauma from the tube. However, no studies are available concerning alterations in airways that have never been intubated before. It was the aim of the study to compare endoscopic findings in the larynx and trachea of children who had undergone prior endotracheal intubation with findings in children who had not been intubated before.

Obstructive sleep apnoea in Treacher Collins syndrome: prevalence, severity and cause.

This cohort study in 35 patients (13 children) evaluates the prevalence, severity and anatomical cause of obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome (OSAS) in patients with Treacher Collins syndrome. Ambulatory polysomnography was performed cross-sectionally to determine OSAS prevalence and severity. All upper airway related surgical interventions were evaluated retrospectively.

Screening for obstructive sleep apnea in Treacher-Collins syndrome.

Objectives/hypothesis: This study evaluated the accuracy of established obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) questionnaires based on presenting symptoms and complaints as screening tools for OSAS in Treacher-Collins syndrome (TCS).

Study Design: Cross-sectional cohort study.

Methods: In 35 TCS patients (13 children, 22 adults) in whom diagnostic polysomnographic results on OSAS were available, the Brouillette score was evaluated in children and the Epworth Sleepiness Scale in adults.

Auditory brainstem response morphology and analysis in very preterm neonatal intensive care unit infants.

Objectives/hypothesis: Analysis of auditory brainstem response (ABR) in very preterm infants can be difficult owing to the poor detectability of the various components of the ABR. We evaluated the ABR morphology and tried to extend the current assessment system.

Study Design: Prospective cohort study.