Sustavni probir novorođenčadi na oštećenje sluha u Općoj bolnici Pula (2011-2015)

Neonatal hearing screening program (NHSP) started in Croatia at the beginning of year 2002 (University hospital „Sv Duh“, Zagreb), and by the end of year 2002 it was implemented in almost all maternity units in Croatia. From the year 2006 the NHSP is mandatory and there is a specific health legislation. In General hospital Pula, the NHSP is performed before the time of discharge home, using A-OAE method. Those who are positive on hearing impairment (HI), are checked again using the same method 3-4 weeks after the discharge. Those who are positive again are checked using A-ABR method and if they are positive twice, they are sent to the University hospital for a specific audiologic evaluation. The aim of this study is describe the outcome of NHSP in General hospital Pula (Pula, Croatia) in a five-year period (2011.-2015.). In the above mentioned period, there were 6799 live births and NHSP was performed in 6535 neonates (96,12%). Thirty-two children were positive on HI (Two A-OAE checkings plus two A-ABR checkings) and were sent to the University hospital for audiologic evaluation. HI was diagnosed in 12 children; four of them had unilateral HI and eight of them had billateral HI. The incidence of HI in our population is 0,18%.