Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 23, 2026
Quantitative Assessment of Cortical Auditory-tactile Processing in Children with Disabilities
Published on: January 29, 2014
Assessing service quality in paediatric audiology and early deaf education
J Bamford1, C Battersby, D Beresford
1Human Communication and Deafness Group, University of Manchester, UK. john.bamford@man.ac.uk
Insights
Quality monitoring in UK paediatric audiology and deaf education services revealed significant guideline non-adherence. This variability raises concerns about equitable provision for children with hearing loss and their families.
Area of Science:
- Healthcare Quality Assurance
- Pediatric Audiology
- Special Education
Background:
- Effective quality monitoring is crucial for evidence-based health and education services.
- Existing good practice guidelines for UK paediatric audiology services (NDCS, 1994, 1996) were used as a benchmark.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the performance of UK health-based paediatric audiology services against established guidelines.
- To develop and validate tools for measuring service quality in paediatric audiology and early deaf education.
Main Methods:
- A survey assessed paediatric audiology service performance against existing guidelines.
- Development of two questionnaires: the Paediatric Audiology Service Index (PASI) and the Deaf Education Early Service Index (DEESI).
- These indices provide scores out of 100 to reflect service quality.
Main Results:
- Survey results indicated varied service provision, with frequent non-adherence to guidelines.
- The PASI and DEESI indices showed a wide distribution of scores across services.
- While some services approached guideline levels, overall quality varied significantly.
Conclusions:
- The study highlights serious concerns regarding the variability and inequity in quality of care for children with permanent hearing loss.
- Inconsistent provision across health and education services impacts children and their families negatively.
Abstract:
Quality monitoring and assurance is a key aspect of evidence-based service provision in health and education. Part I of the present paper summarizes the results from a survey in which performance of health-based paediatric audiology services in the UK was assessed against existing good practice guidelines (NDCS, 1994, 1996). The results of the survey indicated varied levels of provision, with guidelines commonly not followed. Part II of the paper reports the detailed development of two short questionnaires designed to provide scores (out of 100) reflecting aspects of service quality in paediatric audiology services and in early deaf education services. The results from the use of the two indices (the Paediatric Audiology Service Index (PASI) and the Deaf Education Early Service Index (DEESI)) are presented along with data from some component questions. Although some services are functioning close to guideline levels of service, the overall distribution of scores is such as to raise serious concerns about the variability of quality and the consequent inequity of provision for children with permanent hearing loss and their families in both health and education services.
More Related Videos
14:05Behavioral Assessment of Hearing in 2 to 4 Year-old Children: A Two-interval, Observer-based Procedure Using Conditioned Play-based Responses
Published on: January 23, 2017
06:04Systematic Hearing Performance Evaluation Process for Adolescents with Cochlear Implantation at Early Ages
Published on: March 24, 2023