gms | German Medical Science

Introduction: The prevalence of congenital auditory dysfunction is 1–2 per 1.000 newborns. Auditory function is an essntial component during development for infants and children. Until recently the diagnositc procedure was carried out too late after birth. Since the 1^st of January 2009 a claim for infants to participate in the NHS has been established in the Guidelines for paediatrics. Further, the follow up (Tracking System) has a very high importance for early rehablilitation of auditory dysfunction. The tracking system is not controlled by the national health system but is a reponsibility for the States of Germany. In Saxony-Anhalt a Tracking-Centre was founded in cooperation between the Malformation-Monitoring-Centre and the Centre for Metabolic Disorders.

Methods: Analysis of the level of diagnostic investigation (NHS) prior to the introduction of the guideline required NHS in 2008 in Saxony-Anhalt.

Results: The NHS centre was able to follow 10.499 children in 2008, which equates to 59.8% of the birth population in Saxony-Anhalt. Twenty-three maternity-clinics participated over a one year period; nine for 12 months and 14 for less that 12 months within 2008. All clinics provided transitory evoked otoacustic emission (TEOAE) and a some automatic auditory brainstem response (AABR). Approximately 95% of the children received an NHS in the maternity clinic. The follow-up investigations were carried out in clinics, Ear-Nose-Throat (ENT) practices and centers for pediatric auditory care. The ENT practices mainly used TEOAE for follow up. During 2008 the NHS centre received 13.738 test results from 109 institutions.

Conclusions: The requirements dictated by the guidelines for paediatrics have been fulfilled in Saxony-Anhalt. Standartised diagnostic procedures for follow up care have to be establisched in the future. To include all newborns in the NHS a thourough interdisciplinary cooperation will be reqired.