Newborn hearing screening in Sicily: Lesson learned

The objective of this work carried on by University of Palermo, was to evaluate the prevalence of sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) from 2008 to 2012 through a newborn hearing screening programme, focusing on 3863 newborns with and without risk indicators. The authors performed a global audiological assessment through otoacoustic emission (TEOAE), tympanometry and auditory brainstem responses (ABR) studying the main factors reported by Joint Committee on Infant Hearing (2007) and using the UNHS (Universal newborn hearing screening). The principal lesson learned after years of involvement in developing and manag- ing newborn hearing screening programmes is to approach this problem with a healthy dose of realism, and to manage existing resources wisely.