Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 1, 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
Infant hearing loss in South Africa: age of intervention and parental needs for support
Talita van der Spuy1, Lidia Pottas
1Department of Communication Pathology, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa. talita.vanderspuy@up.ac.za
Insights
Early diagnosis and intervention for childhood hearing loss in South Africa are delayed, with diagnosis at 23 months. Parents of children with hearing impairment heavily rely on pediatric audiologists for essential support and guidance.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Audiology
- Public Health
- Developmental Pediatrics
Background:
- Hearing loss is a significant, underdiagnosed issue in developing nations.
- Limited screening programs hinder timely data collection on diagnosis and intervention ages.
- Understanding parental support needs is crucial for effective early intervention.
Purpose of the Study:
- To report on current practices for early diagnosis and intervention of hearing loss in urban South Africa.
- To identify the support needs of parents with hearing-impaired children.
Main Methods:
- Questionnaire surveys administered to 54 parents of children with congenital or early-onset hearing loss.
- Focus group discussions conducted with 10 parents to gather in-depth insights.
Main Results:
- The mean age of diagnosis was 23 months (±18 SD).
- The mean age for initial hearing aid fitting was 28 months (±19 SD).
- The mean age for early intervention program enrollment was 31 months (±19 SD).
Conclusions:
- Significant delays exist in the diagnosis and intervention of early-onset hearing loss in the studied South African population.
- Parents of young children with hearing impairments demonstrate a strong reliance on pediatric audiologists for ongoing support and guidance.
Abstract:
Hearing loss is referred to as the silent, overlooked epidemic in developing countries, and data reporting the mean age of diagnosis and intervention is virtually non-existent due to limited systematic or routine screening programs. The objective of this paper is to present findings of recent practice in early diagnosis and intervention services in an urban South African context, with specific reference to parental needs for support. Data was collected by means of questionnaire surveys for 54 parents of children with congenital or early-onset hearing loss, followed by focus group discussions conducted with 10 parents. The results of this study indicate the mean age of diagnosis to be 23 months (+/-18 SD), the mean age of initial hearing-aid fitting to be 28 months (+/-19 SD), and the mean age of enrollment into an early intervention program to be 31 months (+/-19 SD). In addition, results signify that this diverse and challenging population of parents of young hearing-impaired children largely depends on the ongoing support, guidance, and commitment of the pediatric audiologist.
Related Concept Videos
01:31Hearing
01:19Autism Spectrum Disorder
These core symptoms manifest differently among individuals, ranging from mild to severe. The disorder's complexity extends beyond its clinical presentation, encompassing a diverse range of biological, cognitive, and sociocultural influences.