Advantages Of Identifying Hearing Problems Soon After Birth

Main Category: Pediatrics / Children's Health
Also Included In: Hearing / Deafness;  Ear, Nose and Throat
Article Date: 16 Dec 2008 - 0:00 PST

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Five years since the first babies were screened for hearing problems in Hull and East Yorkshire the benefits of the Newborn Hearing Screening Programme are clear to see.

Children who had hearing problems identified soon after birth are now reaping the rewards of early treatment interventions with one profoundly deaf child starting at St Nicholas Primary School in Hull. Before the Newborn Hearing Screening Programme was established at Hull and East Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust Megan Bride would almost certainly have needed to spend time at a school for children with specialist needs. However, because her hearing loss was picked up just days after she was born Megan had hearing aids fitted within weeks and the benefits have been obvious to all.

Megan's Mum, Kelly Bride, said:
"We are so proud of Megan. Thanks to the early screening tests her hearing difficulties have not been an issue for her at all. She has to wear a hearing aid but because that was first fitted at an early age she has never had any problems with her speech or learning development. Now she can attend her local Primary School along with all of her friends."

The Newborn Hearing Screening Programme was launched in 2003 when the £35m Hull and East Yorkshire Women and Children's Hospital and Jubilee Birth Centre opened. Since that time 99% of all babies born in the units, as well as in the community, have been screened for hearing problems just days after birth. In total the team of eight screeners have tested over 30,000 babies.

Tracy Kemp, Local Coordinator for the Newborn Hearing Screening Programme said:
"Before the service was launched children might not be tested for hearing problems until they were one and a half to two-years-old. This meant that their learning and speech development was delayed and they were playing catch up if they were found to have severe or profound deafness. Now we can make a huge difference to their lives by picking up issues early."

The first baby identified with a hearing problem in 2003 by the screening programme during its first week was Kaylan Jordan-Sen. Now five-years-old Kaylan attends Cross Hill Primary School and initial assessments at the end of his first year demonstrate he is achieving the same educational milestones alongside his peers.

Kaylan's Mum, Julie, said:
"The early screening has been a great advantage to Kaylan. His development has been normal and he has been able to learn alongside his friends. Also the school have been so supportive. They have invested in a speaker system set up in his classroom and the main hall so that Kaylan and all the children benefit from hearing the teacher better. Without the early screening programme though Kaylan might never have been able to have gone to a school like this."

Tracy Kemp said:
"To see Megan and Kaylan now at five-years-old and learning alongside all the other kids at mainstream schools is really wonderful. I have no doubt that the Newborn Hearing Screening Programme has made a big difference to people's lives."

Hull and East Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust is one of the largest acute trusts in the UK, providing a full range of acute services to almost 600,000 people in the Hull and East Yorkshire region.The Trust also provides a number of sub-specialties serving a wider population of up to 1.2million in North Yorkshire, North and North East Lincolnshire. The Trust is a trauma, cancer and tertiary centre as well as a partner in the local medical school (HYMS) with strong links to the University. The Trust manages two main sites: Hull Royal Infirmary and Castle Hill Hospital It has 1,500 beds, over 7,500 staff and an annual income of approximately £400m (2008/2009).

This year the Trust will see the opening of the £70m Cancer Centre, the £48m Cardiac and Elective Centre, and a £12m Research and Teaching (including Day Surgery) building at Castle Hill Hospital.

Hull and East Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust
http://www.hey.nhs.uk