The results of the universal neonatal hearing screening (UNHS) and vestibular screening in Flanders are reviewed according to guidelines and benchmarks of the position statements from the Joint Committee on Infant Hearing. The UNHS is organized since 1997 by a Flemish public child care organization and performed at the well-baby clinics by trained nurses. It is based on a two-step screening with Automated Auditory Brainstem Responses and in case of absent responses (named ‘refer’), audiological and medical diagnostic are done in certified centers. Vestibular screening started in 2018 around the age of 6 months with cervical Vestibular Evoked Myogenic Potentials (cVEMP) for all children with confirmed permanent hearing loss. The coverage of the UNHS from 1998 till 2020 was 96,3 % (range 91,1 – 98%). There was a bilateral refer for 0,27 % of the infants and unilateral refer for 0,37 %. A sensorineural or mixed hearing loss >40 dB was diagnosed in 32 % of the referred infants, a conductive hearing loss which often resolved over time in 39 %, a normal hearing in 25% and 4.7 % were lost in follow-up for the diagnostic evaluation. There was an effect of the screening device on the detection of conductive hearing losses and false-positive cases. The incidence was higher with the MAICO MB Classic® device compared to the ALGO® devices. The incidence of sensorineural hearing loss was independent of the screening device and remained relatively stable over the years. A vestibular deficit was found in 9,5 % of all children with sensorineural hearing loss. The results are compared to other worldwide UNHS programs. Central organization of monitoring and follow-up have proven to be essential for the program’s success. Over the years screening shifted progressively towards an earlier age. A big challenge is the long-term follow-up of the children.

Christian Desloovere has completed his PHD at the Johan-Wolfgang-Goethe University, Frankfurt am Main, Germany in 1992. He is responsible for the subdivision Neurotology at the Ear-Nose and Throat department of the University Hospitals Leuven, Belgium since 1994 and head of the Cochlear Implant Team and the Balance Laboratory. He is professor at the Catholic University Leuven since 1995, faculty of Medicine and faculty of Kinesiology and Rehabilitation sciences. Active member of the Scientific advisory council for neonatal hearing screening Child and Family since 1998