Early detection of hearing disorders in The Netherlands. A review on 15 years of experience.

In the Netherlands we have a nation-wide screening program on hearing for for infants. This program started around the late sixties. A modification of the method as developed by the Ewings is used. The Dutch Foundation for the Deaf and Hearing-Impaired Child co-ordinates the screening program. 70% of the 9 months old babies are screened. The total number of children screened from 1964 onwards until today exceeds the 700.000. A follow-up study of a population of 35.000 children showed us that: the Ewing-test is effective; it detects both severe and moderate perception hearing-losses as well as conductive hearing-losses: the number of children that is not detected with the Ewing is relatively low; children who have not been screened are diagnosed at a much later age.