Implementation of Universal Newborn Hearing Screening and Analysis of School Enrollment Among Hearing-Impaired Students in China.

ABSTRACT: Universal newborn hearing screening (UNHS) is recognized as the most effective strategy for early detection of congenital hearing loss; however, screening coverage remains inadequate in many countries. In China, newborn hearing screening has been implemented for over two decades. To evaluate our policies and practices during this period and assess resource equity, health impacts, and future challenges, we conducted a nationwide survey focusing on newborn hearing screening coverage, the number of special schools for deaf-mutes, and the proportion of hearing-impaired students in mainstream education. From 2001 to 2020, China's UNHS program coverage increased from 10.9% to 94.3%, while the proportion of hearing-impaired students in mainstream education rose from 24.8% to 57.5%. Concurrently,

SUBMITTER: Wang Z 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11911654 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature