The effect of different 'pass-fail' criteria on the results of a newborn hearing screening program.

'Pass' criteria in newborn hearing screening programs are important, since they affect the operating characteristics of the programs. In the present study, we intended to compare the results of two screening procedures, using different 'pass' criteria, in two samples from the same pool of screened newborns. The subjects were divided into two study groups, screened consecutively during 6 months. Testing and all procedures were exactly the same in both groups, differing only in the 'pass' criteria. In the first group a signal-to-noise ratio of at least 3 dB in the frequency bands of 1-2, 2-3 and 3-4 kHz was considered necessary for a 'pass', whereas a signal-to-noise ratio > or =6 dB was used in the second group, at the same frequency bands. During the period of the study, no other minor or major modification of the protocol was applied. The comparison of the screening predischarge results between the two groups showed no statistically significant differences in the 'pass-refer' results. Thus, it appears that the 3-dB signal-to-noise ratio is as valid as the 6-dB criterion, and it may be confidently used, especially in settings where rescreening is not available.