Journal of Osh State University. Medicine

Development of early diagnostics of hearing impairment in Kyrgyz Republic

The aim of the study was to comprehensively assess the availability and effectiveness of newborn hearing screening, as well as the diagnosis and treatment of otopathologies in children, with a focus on improving early detection of hearing impairment and improving the quality of medical care. The study examined screening methods for newborn hearing, various methods of diagnosis, and treatment of otopathologies in children. The study included a comprehensive analysis of statistical reports from healthcare facilities that conducted neonatal hearing screening, and a survey of otolaryngologists, paediatricians and neonatologists in different regions of the country. Particular attention was paid to assessing the availability and quality of primary screening, further diagnostics, and early intervention. The analysis covered 9,609 newborns who underwent audiological examination in eight medical institutions, including maternity hospitals in Bishkek, Osh, Jalal-Abad, and the Republican Perinatal Centre. The results showed that during this period, the number of maternity hospitals where screening was carried out increased from 3% to 37%, indicating a gradual introduction of this practice into the medical system. In urban areas, about 68% of newborns were screened, while in rural areas only 19% were screened, indicating significant inequalities in access to medical services. Hearing impairment was suspected in 1.7% of children, of whom 0.8% had confirmed hearing loss. Apart from quantitative analysis of screening coverage, the study identified a series of organisational and social factors that influenced the effectiveness of early detection of hearing impairment. Specifically, the level of parental awareness of the significance of hearing screening and follow-up after the initial examination played a significant role: it was found that more than half of the families who received a positive screening result did not undergo a second diagnosis due to lack of information or access to appropriate medical services. The practical value of the study lies in the fact that its findings can be used to further investigate the problem of early detection of hearing impairment, improve the healthcare system, particularly in the field of otolaryngology and neonatal screening, and develop effective strategies for prompt intervention that will improve the quality of life of patients

audiological testing; neonatal screening; otoacoustic emission; early interventions in otopathology; primary screening