A questionnaire survey of the status of newborn hearing screening in Aomori

Newborn hearing screening (NHS) programs have advanced nationally in Japan, however, differences have been seen in the funding, availability of equipment and rates of enforcement among prefectures. We investigated the current status of NHS in Aomori Prefecture by conducting a questionnaire survey of 36 obstetric institutions. About 60% performed NHS using automated auditory brainstem response (AABR) or otoacoustic emission (OAE) in equal numbers, while some institutions using both types of testing. Differences in the availability of testing devices were seen among institutions. About 3, 000 (25% of all) neonates were screened annually in 2004 and 2005. Compared to the national median, this is a low percentage. Institutions that lacked NHS devices indicated that they had no plans to purchase the equipment either, because of lack of funds and/or shortage of manpower. Early identification of hearing impairment is important for language development. To increase the rate of NHS in Aomori prefecture, we believe that it is necessary for otorhinolaryngologists to gain the cooperation of obstetricians and pediatricians and encourage institutions with the facilities to perform testing on all the neonates born at the institutions, as well as facilitate the transfer of newborns from institutions without facilities for NHS to those that are equipped, so that these neonates can also undergo screening.