The Nebraska Early Hearing Detection and Intervention Annual Report for 2011 has just been released. This is a must read for anyone trying to gain a broader understanding of the hearing detection and intervention work being done in Nebraska. (See PDF of 2011 Newborn Screening Annual Report)
Some of the interesting highlights include:
- Hearing Screens were reported on 25,746 newborns or 98.98% of those born, prior to discharge from the hospital. This is a dramatic increase since reporting began in 2000, when only slightly more than one-third of newborns received a hearing screening during birth admission.
- 94.92% of newborns passed the inpatient hearing screening, 4.06% did not pass the screening, .64% did not receive inpatient screening and .37% of newborns died.
- 114 infants received a complete audiologic evaluation.
- 43 infants were diagnosed with hearing loss in one or both ears. Thirty-four were identified with bilateral hearing loss and nine infants were identified with unilateral hearing loss. The degree of hearing loss breaks down as 33% profound, 12% severe, 46% moderate, and 9% mild.
- 74% of the 43 infants were referred to the state's early intervention Early Development Network within six months, 9.3% were referred after six months and 16.3% were not referred directly by the audiologist or medical home.
- There are currently approximately 770 children in Nebraska who are identified by the Nebraska Department of Education with a primary diagnosis of deaf or hard of hearing.
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