Table 1. Quality scoring criteria.
| Factor | Score | Scoring |
|---|---|---|
| PCHL definition | 0 | Not clearly defined—missing information on >1 feature (laterality, anatomy and severity of study target condition) |
| 1 | Mostly defined—missing information on 1 feature | |
| 2 | Clearly defined—specified all features | |
| Other concerns | 0 | Further concern identified |
| 1 | No other concerns identified | |
| Clear protocol | 0 | Not clearly defined–missing information on one or more features (which tests and number of stages) |
| 1 | Clearly defined | |
| Clear at-risk protocol | 0 | Not clearly defined (how at-risk infants, as defined by the study, were managed) |
| 1 | Clearly defined | |
| Sample bias | 0 | Any identified concerns |
| 1 | No identified concerns | |
| UNHS coverage | 0 | <95% or unclear (# receiving ≥1 UNHS tests) / (target population) |
| 1 | ≥95% | |
| UNHS follow-up | 0 | <70% or unclear (# not lost to follow-up by end of diagnostic tests) / (# failing first stage of UNHS) |
| 1 | ≥70% | |
| Overall follow-up | 0 | No follow-up after completion of relevant screening tests (screen negatives) or diagnostic testing (screen positives) |
| 1 | Yes, some form of follow-up reported |
PCHL: permanent childhood hearing loss; UNHS: universal newborn hearing screening.