UNHS-SH: ein multidisziplinärer Ansatz für das Neugeborenenhörscreening in Schleswig-Holstein. Aktuelle phoniatrisch-pädaudiologische Aspekte

In Germany, NHS has not yet become "universal" for the state but has activities in many of its federal countries, predominately based on private sponsorship. In Schleswig-Holstein, a multidisciplinary and quality managed two-step screening program was started in December of 2003 for approximately 23.500 newborns a year ("UNHS-SH"). The program involves the departments of pediatric audiology, otolaryngology, pediatrics, obstetrics, social medicine, education, informatics, and a quality management group. Healthy newborns are screened with TEOAE at day 3 (first-step) and "risk babies" with AABR. In cases of "fail" on one or both ears in a healthy newborn, a second screening is performed by an otolaryngologist or paediatrician. Screening results are submitted to the data acquisition centre in Lubeck by either conventional mail, encrypted form by floppy disk, as an email attachment, or via the internet (http upload). After an FTP transfer to a secure and safe server, data are decrypted and imported in pre-defined intervals into a MS ACCESS database. A tracking software allows for later statistical analysis and quality management. From May 2004 to April 2005, the screening covered 99 % of the newborns with a tracking rate of 44 %. 62 newborns entered a follow-up. 12 newborns were fitted with hearing aids or CI as a result of the program and 7 newborns were lost to follow up. With an education program for screeners and an on-site-service, further improvements are in reach.