Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 22 October 2013
576. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health the system that is in place for testing newborns for deafness and for children acquiring hearing loss within the first 12 months; the policy implemented by Health Service Executive and supporting agencies for support for these children and their parents in the early years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44700/13]
View answer579. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health the position regarding his target to ensure that there is a universal hearing test for all newborns at all maternity hospitals by 2014; the specific elements of the Health Service Executive care pathways for a newborn, from the initial hearing test to the process of fitting a hearing aid for a baby; if he will identify where there are current gaps in the delivery of this service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44703/13]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 576 and 579 together.
The HSE has completely rolled out its Universal Newborn Hearing Screening Programme (UNHS) in three regions to date - HSE Dublin Mid Leinster, HSE Dublin North East and HSE South. This will be fully extended to HSE West by the end of the year. The objectives of this programme are:
- To offer a hearing screen to newborn babies using an agreed national protocol;
- To screen babies using the agreed national protocol for screening within 4 weeks of birth, and by 44 weeks gestational age for babies who have been in a Special Care Baby Unit or Neonatal Intensive Care Unit for more than 48 hours;
- To ensure timely referral and assessment to integrated audiology services of babies identified as requiring assessment;
- To ensure that all babies with permanent childhood hearing impairment receive effective and acceptable intervention, care and support that meets their individual needs, including appropriate referral to other services such as ENT and allied health professionals and other statutory bodies/agencies such as Department of Education and Skills.
Additionally, if a baby passes the screening but if the parents have concerns at a later stage, they can highlight these concerns to their Public Health Nurse or Area Medical Officer and be referred into Audiology Services for re-assessment.
The HSE chairs a Collaborative Working Group which has representation from DeafHear, HSE Audiology Services, HSE Speech and Language Therapy Services, Visiting Teachers for the Deaf and the Beaumont Cochlear Implant Programme. This group works closely to ensure that services provided to children diagnosed with a hearing impairment are offered in a seamless fashion. Once an audiologist diagnoses a child with a hearing impairment, they refer on to the appropriate professionals.
UNHS has proven high sensitivity and specificity. With this sensitive procedure for hearing screening, a child with a permanent hearing impairment (PCHI) can now be identified much earlier, within 4 to 5 weeks of birth, and the hearing status of each ear determined accurately. This means a child can start receiving appropriate support within the first six months of life. The core objectives of UNHS are described as "1-3-6" goals which are based on international programmes:
- Babies to be screened by 1 month of age;
- Audiology assessment completed by 3 months of age;
- Initiation of appropriate medical and audiological services, and early intervention services, by 6 months of age.
