Early hearing detection and intervention: Reflections from the South African context

Area of Science:

• Audiology
• Public Health
• Healthcare Systems

Background:

• Universal newborn hearing screening (UNHS) is a key objective for many developing countries.
• The feasibility of UNHS within the South African healthcare system requires careful consideration.
• Existing audiological services in South Africa need a broader contextual overview.

Purpose of the Study:

• To provide an overview of audiological services in South Africa.
• To reflect on the implementation of UNHS from a South African perspective.
• To suggest alternative hearing screening strategies for the South African public healthcare sector.

Main Methods:

• Review of existing audiological services.
• Analysis of the South African healthcare system's capacity for UNHS.
• Exploration of alternative screening models.

Main Results:

• The current manuscript provides a contextual overview of audiological services.
• Reflections highlight challenges in implementing UNHS within the South African context.
• Alternative approaches to UNHS are proposed for consideration.

Conclusions:

• Mandated UNHS programs may not be the most suitable approach for South Africa.
• Alternative hearing screening strategies should be explored for the public healthcare sector.
• A systems-level perspective is crucial for audiological service planning in developing contexts.