فهرست نشریات علمی دسترسی آزاد ایران

Congenital hearing loss is a major, often underrecognized global public health challenge (1) Its significance stems from the fact that it is among the few pediatric disabilities for which early identification and intervention can profoundly alter developmental outcomes (2). Without detection in the neonatal period, its consequences extend beyond auditory impairment to affect speech, language, cognition, education, social participation, family well-being, and lifetime productivity (2).  In Iran, newborn hearing screening programs have expanded substantially in recent years. A national analysis reported that in 2022, 1,006,293 of 1,106,072 newborns underwent hearing screening, corresponding to a coverage rate of 90.97%. The study also estimated a mean prevalence of congenital hearing loss of 3.3 per 1,000 births and showed that a two-step screening strategy using otoacoustic emissions followed by automated auditory brainstem response is the most cost-effective approach, with an incremental cost-effectiveness ratio of 3297.2 US PPP per quality-adjusted life year (3). These findings are encouraging, indicating that large‑scale newborn hearing screening is both feasible and economically justifiable within the Iranian health system. Nevertheless, screening represents only the initial component of a comprehensive care pathway. Effective early hearing detection and intervention programs must ensure timely diagnostic confirmation, appropriate amplification, early rehabilitative services, and, when indicated, cochlear implantation to achieve optimal developmental outcomes.