OBJECTIVE: To describe tne regional different factors which impact on early cochlear implantation in prelingual deaf children between eastern and western regions of China. METHOD: The charts of 113 children who received the cochlear implantation after 24 months old were reviewed and analyzed. Forty-five of them came from the eastern region (Jiangsu, Zhejiang or Shanghai) while 68 of them came from the western region (Ningxia or Guizhou). Parental interviews were conducted to collect information regarding the factors that impact on early cochlear implantation. Result:Based on the univariate logistic regression analysis, the odds ratio (OR) value of universal newborn hearing screening (UNHS) was 5. 481, which indicated the correlation of UNHS with early cochlear implantation is significant. There was statistical difference between the 2 groups (P<0. 01). For the financial burden, the OR value was 3. 521(strong correlation) and there was statistical difference between the 2 groups (P<0. 01). For the communication barriers and community location, the OR value was 0. 566 and 1. 128 respectively, and there was no statistical difference between the 2 groups (P>0. 05). The multivariate analysis indicated that the UNHS and financial burden are statistically different between the eastern and western regions (P=0. 00 and 0. 040 respectively). CONCLUSION The UNHS and financial burden are statistically different between the eastern reinforced in the western region. In addition, the government and society should provide powerful policy and more financial support in the western region of China. The innovation of management system is also helpful to the early cochlear implantation.
Child ; China ; Cochlear Implantation ; statistics & numerical data ; Geography ; Hearing Tests ; statistics & numerical data ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Neonatal Screening

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the results of concurrent hearing and deafness genetic screening and follow up of newborns. METHODS: In total 33 911 babies born to 5 designated hospitals in Nanshan District of Shenzhen city from October 2017 to December 2019 were included. All subjects underwent concurrent hearing and deafness genetic screening covering 21 variants of 4 genes including GJB2, SLC26A4, GJB3 and Mt12SrRNA. For those with positive results, Sanger sequencing was carried out for confirmation. RESULTS: 93.32% subjects passed the first-round hearing screening, and 87.01% passed the recheck testing. The overall detection rate was 4.18%. The detection rates for GJB2, SLC26A4, GJB3 and Mt12srRNA variants were 1.98%, 1.58%, 0.37% and 0.25%, respectively. 126 and 84 subjects were found with high risk for delayed-onset and drug-induced hearing loss, respectively. In addition, 4 and 5 subjects were found to harbor homozygous/compound heterozygous variants of the GJB2 and SLC26A4 genes, respectively. Concurrent screening showed that subjects (with heterozygous variants) who did not passed the two round hearing test were as follows: GJB2 with 6.75% in the first round and 2.61% in the second round testing, SLC26A4 (3.3%/1.2%), GJB3 (0.72%/0.14%) and 12SrRNA (0.36%/Nil), respectively. Moreover, the No-pass rate in the subjects with homozygous or compound variants in single gene, heterozygous variant in single gene, heterozygous variant in multiple genes, and homozygous variant in GJB3 gene were significantly higher than the subjects with negative results of genetic screening. CONCLUSION Concurrent newborn genetic screening can enhance the effectiveness of hearing screening and enable earlier identification and intervention for children with hearing impairment. Follow-up can improve the diagnostic rate for children who are positive for the concurrent screening. Nevertheless, genetic and hearing screening cannot replace the diagnostic testing. It is necessary to conduct comprehensive analysis for the results of genetic and hearing screening and radiological examinations. Sanger sequencing and next-generation sequencing are critical for ascertain the diagnosis.
China/epidemiology* ; DNA Mutational Analysis ; Deafness/genetics* ; Follow-Up Studies ; Genes/genetics* ; Genetic Testing/statistics & numerical data* ; Hearing/genetics* ; Hearing Tests/statistics & numerical data* ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Mutation ; Neonatal Screening

We aimed to estimate the effects of various risk factors on hearing level in Korean adults, using data from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. We examined data from 13,369 participants collected between 2009 and 2011. Average hearing thresholds at low (0.5, 1, and 2 kHz) and high frequencies (3, 4, and 6 kHz), were investigated in accordance with various known risk factors via multiple regression analysis featuring complex sampling. We additionally evaluated data from 4,810 participants who completed a questionnaire concerned with different types of noise exposure. Low body mass index, absence of hyperlipidemia, history of diabetes mellitus, low incomes, low educational status, and smoking were associated with elevated low frequency hearing thresholds. In addition, male sex, low body mass index, absence of hyperlipidemia, low income, low educational status, smoking, and heavy alcohol consumption were associated with elevated high frequency hearing thresholds. Participants with a history of earphone use in noisy circumstances demonstrated hearing thresholds which were 1.024 dB (95% CI: 0.176 to 1.871; P = 0.018) higher, at low-frequencies, compared to participants without a history of earphone use. Our study suggests that low BMI, absence of hyperlipidemia, low household income, and low educational status are related with hearing loss in Korean adults. Male sex, smoking, and heavy alcohol use are related with high frequency hearing loss. A history of earphone use in noisy circumstances is also related with hearing loss.
Adult ; Alcohol Drinking/*epidemiology ; Causality ; Comorbidity ; Diabetes Mellitus ; Disease Susceptibility ; Educational Status ; Employment/statistics & numerical data ; Female ; Hearing Loss/*diagnosis/*epidemiology ; Hearing Tests/statistics & numerical data ; Humans ; Income/statistics & numerical data ; Male ; *Noise ; Occupational Exposure/*statistics & numerical data ; Republic of Korea/epidemiology ; Risk Factors ; Sex Distribution ; Smoking/*epidemiology ; Surveys and Questionnaires

OBJECTIVE: To study the results of TEOAE and AABR hearing screening and follow-up in NICU. METHOD: Total 574 cases in NICU were included in this study, all cases received both TEOAE and AABR hearing screening while admission and rescreening when one-month-old. The cases that were abnormal on either test in rescreening were asked to return for diagnostic tests at 3 moths old. The patients who didn't return as required in 3 months were surveyed by call and analyzed. RESULT: Among 574 cases, 472 cases passed both TEOAE and AABR hearing screening while admission. While 102 cases had abnormal test results in either screening test. Thirty-three cases returned for follow-up, 13 of which passed rescreening test one month after discharge, the other 20 cases had ABR diagnostic tests after 3 months. Among them, 8 cases had normal hearing, 12 cases had various degree of hearing loss. Sixty-nine cases lost follow-up. The reason of lost follow-up was as follows, parents changed phone number/contact information, parents didn't understand the screening results, parents believe that their children having no need for further testing; parents had retest in other hospitals, parents didn't pay attention to hearing loss because of other severe complicated comorbidities. CONCLUSION The passing rate (normal) of TEOAE and AABR hearing screening in NICU was 82.2%, non- passing rate wass 17.8%, and the prevalence of hearing loss was high in those followed cases. Hyperbilirubinemia was the main risk factors of hearing loss in our NICU patients. We reviewed the reason for high rate (67.6%) of losing follow-up.
Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hearing Tests ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Intensive Care Units, Neonatal ; statistics & numerical data ; Lost to Follow-Up ; Male ; Neonatal Screening ; Retrospective Studies