A study aims to provide guidance in the implementation of hearing screening in the rural areas of China. 11,568 babies born in five counties of Hubei Province of China were screened with transient evoked otoacoustic emissions (TEOAEs). Infa
nts tested after the second-stage screening, were tested by diagnostic auditory brainstem response (ABR).
This large-scale newborn-hearing screening in rural areas of Hubei demonstrated that the screening rate and referral rate for high-risk infants is low in rural areas in China. The researchers suggest that urgent measures should be taken by the government to promote newborn hearing screening in the rural areas.