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Newborn Hearing Screening and Intervention in Children with Unilateral Hearing Impairment: Clinical Practices in
Nina Jakhelln Laugen1, Elsa Erixon2, Kerttu Huttunen3,4,5
1Department of Psychology, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), 7491 Trondheim, Norway.
Insights
Clinical practices for children with unilateral hearing impairment (UHI) vary significantly across Norway, Sweden, and Finland. This study explored screening, diagnostics, and habilitation routines, revealing inconsistencies in care for newborns with UHI.
Area of Science:
- Audiology
- Pediatric Healthcare
- Public Health
Background:
- Unilateral hearing impairment (UHI) in children is understudied, with limited documentation of clinical practices.
- Effective screening, diagnostics, and habilitation are crucial for managing early-identified UHI.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore and document current clinical routines for newborns with UHI in Norway, Sweden, and Finland.
- To identify variations in healthcare organization and clinical decision-making for congenital UHI.
Main Methods:
- An online survey was distributed to hospitals responsible for pediatric hearing diagnostics.
- The survey targeted practices related to screening, diagnostics, and habilitation of congenital UHI.
- Data encompassed 95% of children born in the three participating Nordic countries.
Main Results:
- Significant variations were observed in the organization of healthcare services for children with UHI.
- Clinical decisions regarding hearing screening, diagnostics, and habilitation showed considerable differences.
- Practices varied widely among hospitals in Norway, Sweden, and Finland.
Conclusions:
- There is a lack of standardized clinical pathways for managing congenital UHI in the Nordic region.
- The findings highlight the need for policy development to improve consistency in care.
- Further research is recommended to address the identified gaps in clinical practice and policy for UHI.
Abstract:
Studies have limitedly considered children with early-identified unilateral hearing impairment (UHI), and clinical practices regarding screening, diagnostics and habilitation in this group are rarely documented. In this study, routines for newborns with UHI from screening to diagnostics and habilitation were explored in Norway, Sweden and Finland. An online survey was sent to hospitals responsible for the hearing diagnostics of children requesting information about their practices regarding congenital UHI. Responses covered 95% of the children born in the three included countries. The results revealed large variations in ways of organising healthcare and in clinical decisions regarding hearing screening, diagnostics and habilitation of children with congenital UHI. Finally, implications for policy making and research are also discussed.
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