In order to simulate a screening programme, at least the following information is necessary:

For neonatal hearing screening for well babies

  • number of infants born per year in your area (can be a country, region or district)
  • how many infants born each year qualify for the well babies protocol
  • the prevalence of hearing loss in well babies at birth
  • which babies qualify for the risk/NICU protocol
  • which test device(s) are used, how many are needed and the associated costs
  • sensitivity and specificity of the test(s) used (guidance available if needed)
  • duration of the test
  • expected attendance at screening and at diagnostic assessment
  • which professional(s) perform screening
  • the salary per month for these professional(s)
  • the costs of the audiololgical diagnostic examination (after screening)

For neonatal hearing screening for risk/NICU babies

  • number of infants born per year in your area (can be a country, region or district)
  • how many infants born each year qualify for the risk/NICU babies protocol
  • the prevalence of hearing loss in risk/NICU babies at birth
  • which babies qualify for the risk/NICU protocol
  • which test device(s) are used, how many are needed and the associated costs
  • sensitivity and specificity of the test(s) used
  • duration of the test
  • expected attendance at screening and at diagnostic assessment
  • which professional(s) perform screening
  • the salary per month for these professional(s)
  • the costs of the audiololgical diagnostic examination (after screening)

For childhood screening after the neonatal period

  • number of children to be screened and their average age at screening
  • the prevalence of hearing loss in the target population
  • how many children are already known to have the target condition
  • which test device(s) are used, how many are needed and the associated costs
  • sensitivity and specificity of the test(s) used
  • duration of the test
  • expected attendance at screening and at diagnostic assessment
  • which professional(s) perform screening
  • the salary per month for these professional(s)
  • the costs of the audiololgical diagnostic examination (after screening)

For photorefraction

  • number of children born per year in your area (can be a country, region or district)
  • the prevalence of of risk factors for amblyopia
  • how many photoscreeners are needed and the associated costs
  • sensitivity and specificity of the test used
  • duration of the test
  • expected attendance at screening and at diagnostic assessment
  • which professional(s) perform screening
  • the salary per month for these professional(s)
  • the cost of diagnostic examination by orthoptist or ophthalmologist (after screening)

For visual acuity screening

  • number of children born per year in your area (can be a country, region or district)
  • the prevalence of amblyopia
  • how many visual acuity charts are needed and the associated costs
  • sensitivity and specificity of the test used
  • duration of the test
  • expected attendance at screening and at diagnostic assessment
  • which professional(s) perform screening
  • the salary per month for these professional(s)
  • the cost of diagnostic examination by orthoptist or ophthalmologist (after screening)

The model will provide the following results of a simulation

  • number of tests
  • number of referrals to diagnostic examination
  • number of cases confirmed by diagnostic examination
  • percentage not diagnosed before a certain age (dependent on the type of screening)
  • number of screens per case detected
  • costs of screening until referral to diagnostic assessment
  • cost of diagnostic assessment
  • total costs (screening + diagnosis)
  • costs per test
  • costs per case detected