MB11 BERAphone) hearing screening compared to ALGOportable in a Dutch NICU: a pilot study

Abstract

Objective: Since 2001 all Dutch Neonatal Intensive Care Units use a highly reliable automated auditory brainstem response (AABR) newborn hearing screening device, the (ALGOportable). A more recent AABR newborn hearing screening device, the MB11 BERAphone, does not make use of disposable ear couplers and has a different algorithm, a possible advantage with regard to a faster response acquisition. Use of the MB11 BERAphone is therefore potentially more cost effective and faster. This study compares test results and suitability of the MB11 BERAphone to the ALGOportable as reference AABR hearing screening test for newborns during neonatal intensive care admission.

Methods: In 54 NICU graduates [median GA 31 2/7 weeks, median BW 1760 g] 55 (110 ears) hearing screening test results and total test time were examined with both the MB11 BERAphone and ALGOportable. Test time was measured from the start of the procedure, including child preparation, until a bilateral result (pass/refer) was obtained.

Results: The median postconceptional age of testing was 34 3/7 weeks (range 30-41 6/7). In 3 ears MB11 BERAphone screening failed due to continuous myogenic activity. In 104/107 ears final results were congruent [87/107 (81%) pass; 17/107 (16%) refer] leaving an incongruity in 3 ears of 2 infants: MB11 BERAphone "refer" and ALGOportable "pass". Diagnostic investigative audiology confirmed a 35dB unilateral conductive hearing loss in 1 child. At 15 months of age speech and language development in the other child was normal. When using the ALGO portable as reference test, the sensitivity of the MB11 BERAphone is 100% (17/17), specificity 97% (87/90). The mean MB11 BERAphone test time was slightly, but not significantly, shorter 11.4 min (SD 6.6) than with the ALGOportable 13.9 (p<0.08).

Conclusion: The MB11 BERAphone is a reliable and feasible hearing screening device for use with NICU graduates under NICU circumstances. It is potentially more cost effective than the ALGOportable.