Parents' perceptions of an emerging community-based newborn hearing screening program: A case study.

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.