Cost comparison of hearing screening programs: Transient evoked otoacoustic emissions in infant screening and screening at school entry

Abstract

Beyond the neonatal period, opportunities to review the hearing status of children require consideration. The current study investigated costs associated with a transient evoked otoacoustic emission (TEOAE) infant screening program, a TEOAE school-entry program and a pure tone screening school-entry program. A total of 1305 two-month-old infants at child health clinics entered the infant hearing program, whilst 940 entry-level six-year-old children entered the school hearing program. Cost per child, total annual program cost and cost per hearing impaired child identified were found to be greater for the infant TEOAE program than for the pure tone school screening and TEOAE school programs. Cost indices associated with the TEOAE school program were marginally greater than those for the pure tone screening school program. Cost per child identified with a sensorineural/mixed hearing impairment was substantially higher than the cost per child identified with hearing impairment generally for all programs.