Related Experiment Videos
Detection of the infant with congenital/early acquired hearing disability
1Department of Audiology, Bispebjerg Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark.
Insights
Early identification of congenital/early acquired hearing disability in children has improved, but at-risk children are not identified sooner. Parental suspicion and non-professional screening are key for early detection.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Audiology
- Public Health
Background:
- Congenital/early acquired hearing disability affects 1.3 per 1,000 children.
- Timely identification and intervention are crucial for developmental outcomes.
- Historical data indicates a need for improved early detection strategies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To describe the age of identification and intervention for children with hearing disabilities.
- To analyze trends in early detection rates over time.
- To identify factors influencing the timeliness of diagnosis and intervention.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of data from children born between 1970-1975 and 1980-1985.
- Comparison of identification ages between different birth cohorts.
- Analysis of the role of parental suspicion and risk factors in early detection.
Main Results:
- Significant improvement in identification by age one, from 16% (1970-1975) to 37% (1980-1985).
- Children identified as 'at-risk' were not diagnosed earlier than those not at risk.
- Parents were the first to suspect hearing disability in 50-60% of cases.
Conclusions:
- While early identification has improved, further enhancements are needed, particularly for at-risk populations.
- Leveraging parental awareness and non-professional screening resources is vital.
- Enhanced professional and public education on high-risk criteria and signs of hearing loss, coupled with accessible audiological services, can significantly improve early detection and intervention.
Abstract:
The age at identification and intervention in different samples of children with congenital/early acquired hearing disability is described. The prevalence of congenital/early acquired hearing disability was 1.3/1,000. Among hearing disabled children born 1970-1975 only 16% were identified at the age of one year, whereas among children born 1980-1985, 37% were identified at this age. Children at-risk are not identified earlier than children not-at-risk. In 50-60% the parents are the first to suspect their child's hearing disability, and it is emphasized that non-professional screening resources are present in the general population and should be taken into account. Better information to both professionals and non-professionals about high-risk criteria and about the signs of hearing disability in combination with easy access to a professional audiological unit could improve the early detection and intervention of hearing disabled children.