Risk Factors for Late-Onset Hearing Loss in Children

January 31, 2004

Principle Investigator: Richard C. Folsom, PhD
Institution: University of Washington
Approximate Year 1 Funding: $218,246
RTOI #: 2004-01-05

Abstract
The long-term goal of this proposal is to improve the quality of life for infants and young children with hearing loss through early detection and intervention.

Universal newborn hearing screening (UNHS) prior to hospital discharge is the standard of care. However, normal hearing at birth does not rule out delayed onset hearing loss. The Joint Committee on Infant Hearing (JCIH) recommends that infants with certain high risk indicators be monitored every three to six months until age three years. Typically, such follow-up lies outside the scope of state hearing screening programs and, following the initial hospital hearing screen, becomes the responsibility of the child's medical home as well as the parents.

The specific proposed research will use a novel approach by capitalizing on the Washington State EDDHI Tracking & Surveillance Database to track infants with risk indicators for hearing loss. By the time of initiation of the proposed research, nearly all the hospitals in the State of Washington will have universal newborn hearing screening (UNHS) and will be submitting data to the EDDHI database. This database will also contain diagnostic follow-up information on infants with risk indicators for late onset hearing loss.

Specifically, this project will:

1. Evaluate the efficacy of the Joint Committee on Infant Hearing 2000 recommended neonatal risk indicators for progressive and/or late onset hearing loss
2. Ensure the accuracy of reporting of the Joint Committee on Infant Hearing 2000 neonatal risk indicators for progressive and/or late onset haring loss by hospitals by implementing quality control measures
3. Evaluate the compliance with the Joint Committee on Infant Hearing 2000 recommendations for monitoring and assessment by the child's primary care physicians and parents