This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
Listen
Drive to detect hearing difficulties in new-borns
14/02/2002
Babies in Lothian and Tayside will be the first to
benefit from a new pilot 'early intervention' programme to
detect hearing difficulties at the earliest possible stage
in life.
Under the scheme, babies under six weeks will be tested
for hearing impairment problems. The hearing test will
replace the current infant distraction test, undertaken
when babies are approximately 7-8 months old. The pilot
programmes which are to begin work in April, will be up and
running by the summer. This will be followed by a national
roll out next year.
This will ensure that hearing problems are diagnosed
earlier in life and enable appropriate treatment or support
to be offered before children with potential difficulties
reach crucial stages in their development.
Deputy Health Minister Mary Mulligan said:
"Screening babies in the first six weeks of life is a
much more effective method of detecting hearing problems
than testing children at 7-8 months. The sensitivity of the
infant distraction test is very low and hearing
difficulties are often not detected until babies are at
least eighteen months old.
"Research shows that the first few years of a child's
life have a significant bearing on his or her future
development. For children with hearing difficulties, these
early years take on an even greater importance.
"Early diagnosis of hearing problems can transform a
child's later life. Targeted therapies, used from the
earliest possible stage, can increase their speech
capability and this in turn can give a child better
education and job prospects, and help with their social
development.
"Overall it will help them gain a better quality of life
in both the short and long term. And it will help ensure
that their families and their carers can provide the most
appropriate type of treatment and support in those early
but very important first years of life.
"As we made clear when we launched the Scottish Health
Plan, we aim to give every child in Scotland the best
possible start in life. Development of this new, improved
screening programme will play a key part in that process
for the estimated 60-65 babies a year who are born with a
permanent hearing impairment.".
Veronica Rattray, Development Manager for the National
Deaf Children's Society said:
"We are delighted to endorse this first step towards the
full implementation of newborn hearing screening throughout
Scotland. This most welcome news will herald the beginning
of the end of late and delayed identification of childhood
deafness in Scotland.
"The National Deaf Children's Society and the Royal
National Institute for Deaf People have campaigned
vigorously for this day and we very much look forward to
working together with service providers to develop
family-friendly services to support the needs of deaf
babies and their families at this very sensitive time.
Stuart Smith, Director of the Royal National Institute
for Deaf People in Scotland said:
"This is great news for deaf babies and their families
in Scotland, particularly Lothian and Tayside. Early
detection of deafness is vital so that families and
professionals can begin working together with a child
before a substantial language and communication deficit
builds up."
The NHS Scotland Screening Programmes Unit will
co-ordinate and monitor implementation of the Newborn
Hearing Screening Programme.
NHS boards will be required to appoint a designated
co-ordinator to ensure that newborn hearing screening is
delivered throughout Scotland.
The roll out of this programme across Scotland will
commence in April 2003. It is expected to be completed by
April 2005.