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Parents' perceptions of an emerging community-based newborn hearing screening program: A case study
Jeffrey L Danhauer1, Carole E Johnson
1Department of Speech and Hearing Sciences, University of California, Santa Barbara 93106, USA. Danhauer@speech.ucsb.edu
Insights
Parents reported positive experiences with a community-based newborn hearing screening program (NHSP). The program did not negatively impact bonding and was recommended by nearly all parents surveyed.
Area of Science:
- Audiology
- Public Health
- Pediatrics
Background:
- Early Hearing Detection and Intervention (EHDI) programs are crucial for identifying hearing loss in newborns.
- Community-based newborn hearing screening programs (NHSP) are emerging as an alternative to hospital-based models.
- Assessing parental perceptions is vital for program improvement and uptake.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate parental perceptions of an emerging community-based newborn hearing screening program (NHSP).
- To assess parent satisfaction with screening explanations, results communication, and referral processes.
- To determine the impact of NHSP participation on parent-infant bonding.
Main Methods:
- A retrospective survey using the "Probe of Parents' Perceptions" (PPP) questionnaire.
- 36 parents of 106 children (34% response rate) born between March 2000 and February 2003 completed the 11-item PPP.
- The study was conducted in Santa Barbara County, California, involving three hospitals.
Main Results:
- Parents generally reported positive impressions of all phases of the NHSP.
- Nearly all parents indicated the program had no negative effects on their ability to bond with their babies.
- The vast majority of parents would recommend NHSPs to others.
Conclusions:
- Emerging community-based NHSPs can achieve positive parental perceptions, similar to established hospital-based programs.
- Parental satisfaction with communication and referral processes is high.
- NHSPs are perceived as beneficial and non-disruptive to early parent-infant bonding.
Abstract:
Thirty-six parents of 106 children (34% response rate) born between March 2000 and February 2003 retrospectively completed the "Probe of Parents' Perceptions: An Early Hearing Detection and Intervention (EHDI) Outcome Measure" (PPP) assessing their participation in an emerging community-based newborn hearing screening program (NHSP) involving three hospitals in Santa Barbara County, California. The PPP, an 11-item questionnaire (in both English and Spanish versions), asks parents about their impressions of the explanations of the purpose of the screening and of the results, and the referral process. The parents were generally positive about all phases of the NHSP; nearly all parents said the program had no negative effects on their ability to bond with their babies, and they would recommend NHSPs to others. These parents' positive impressions in this case study of an emerging community/private practice-based NHSP were consistent with those from studies involving parents participating in hospital-based programs.
