[A survey and childhood deafness in a neonatology unit of Caritas Baby Hospital in Bethlehem].

AIM: The prevalence of deafness in a pediatric hospital Caritas Baby Hospital in Bethlehem was described.

METHOD: All the clinical records of neonates born September 25, 2006 to March 25, 2007 screened for deafness were selected.

RESULTS

Among the 274 screened newborns, 112 were females and 162 males, 97% from the districts of Bethlehem and Hebron, and 3% from other locations in the West Bank. The most recurrent diagnoses were jaundice, potential sepsis and prematurity. Sixty-three were positive at the first screening, 26 at the second screening and only 4 were visited by the audiologist, who confirmed a hearing loss (medium or high) in 3 newborns.

CONCLUSIONS

Screening for deafness should be extended to all newborns and parents should be educated increase awareness of potential problems of children and to refer the child to a specialist.