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Updated: Jul 9, 2026
Behavioral 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
Universal newborn hearing screening
1Department of Ear, Nose and Throat, Security Forces Hospital, Riyadh 11481, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. profzakzouk@hotmail.com
Insights
Early detection of hearing loss in newborns is crucial to prevent developmental delays. Implementing neonatal hearing screening programs in Saudi Arabian hospitals is feasible and recommended for early intervention.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Audiology
- Public Health
Background:
- Hearing loss in children is an "invisible" handicap with significant developmental consequences.
- Delayed identification can lead to speech, language, social, emotional, and academic challenges.
- Effective neonatal hearing screening programs are vital for early intervention.
Purpose of the Study:
- To highlight the importance of early hearing loss detection in neonates.
- To assess the feasibility of implementing neonatal hearing screening in Saudi Arabia.
- To advocate for the establishment of hospital-based screening programs.
Main Methods:
- Review of global literature on neonatal hearing screening programs.
- Analysis of birth settings in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
- Assessment of requirements for program implementation (staff training, equipment).
Main Results:
- Delayed hearing loss identification negatively impacts child development.
- Most births in Saudi Arabia occur in hospitals, similar to countries with established programs.
- Successful implementation is contingent on staff training and equipment availability.
Conclusions:
- Neonatal hearing screening is essential to mitigate the adverse effects of hearing loss.
- The hospital setting in Saudi Arabia provides a viable platform for screening.
- Investment in training and equipment is necessary to establish effective programs.
Abstract:
Hearing loss is an "invisible" handicap. If detection is delayed or denied, significant speech, language, social and emotional delay may result. Delayed identification of hearing loss in children will lead to missing a lot of sound input which can in turn affect their communication, learning, behavior and emotional development as well as future performance in school and work. The world literature on programs for neonatal hearing screening comes mainly from countries such as the United States of America where most births take place in hospitals. Nowadays in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, most births take place in birthing hospitals. It is therefore possible to apply the program in these hospitals, provided training of the staff and the necessary equipment is available.
