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Early hearing aid fitting in children: challenges and results
1Artevelde University College, Ghent, Belgium. kristin.kerkhofs@vgc.be
Insights
Early hearing screening for newborns in Flanders has led to earlier diagnosis and intervention for hearing loss. This has transformed support for infants and families, enabling timely hearing aid fitting and cochlear implant decisions.
Area of Science:
- Audiology
- Public Health
- Pediatrics
Background:
- A universal newborn and early hearing screening program was established 15 years ago in Flanders, Belgium.
- This initiative by 'Kind en Gezin' (Child and Family) aimed to identify hearing impairments in infants early.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the impact of the early hearing screening program over the past 15 years.
- To highlight advancements in diagnostics, hearing aid fitting, and treatment for young children with hearing loss.
Main Methods:
- Continuous diagnostics approach incorporating objective and subjective audiometry.
- Multidisciplinary team approach involving parents as key partners.
- Early intervention through timely hearing aid fitting and cochlear implant consideration.
Main Results:
- A significant increase in the number of hearing-impaired babies fitted with conventional hearing aids at a very young age (2-3 months).
- Earlier decisions for cochlear implantation due to early detection.
- Positive evolution in the integrated care model for hearing-impaired infants.
Conclusions:
- Early hearing screening and diagnosis are crucial for transforming support systems for infants with hearing loss.
- The integrated approach of diagnostics, hearing aid fitting, and multidisciplinary treatment has positively impacted outcomes.
- The program has successfully improved early intervention strategies for hearing-impaired neonates and their families.
Abstract:
A universal programme of newborn/early hearing screening was introduced fifteen years ago in the northern part of Belgium (Flanders) by the Government Health Service 'Kind en Gezin' (Child and Family). Since then, large numbers of hearing-impaired babies have been fitted with conventional hearing aids at a very young age, mostly before the age of 2-3 months. As a result of the early hearing screening programme, the decision to proceed with a cochlear implant is now taken much earlier. Fitting hearing aids in very young children is always part of a continuous diagnostics approach based on cross-checks and a combination of objective and subjective audiometry. It is also a component of a multidisciplinary approach, with parents as the essential party. Fitting hearing aids in very young children cannot be separated from this approach. This article therefore stresses the positive evolution of the last fifteen years in the context of three basic elements for helping young children with hearing loss and their families: diagnostics, fitting hearing aids and treatment. Early screening and the consequent early diagnosis of hearing loss in neonates triggered the transformation of support arrangements for young children with hearing loss and their families.
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