Implementation of National Infant Screening for Hearing Program in India: Challenges, Opportunities and Suggested...

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Audiology
• Pediatrics

Background:

• Hearing impairment is the most common congenital sensory deficit, affecting approximately 1.5 lakh infants annually in India.
• Unaddressed hearing loss in infants leads to significant challenges in communication, academic performance, psychosocial development, and future employability.
• India lacks a dedicated national program for early identification and intervention for hearing-impaired infants.

Purpose of the Study:

• To highlight the necessity of planning and implementing early identification programs for hearing impairment in India.
• To discuss the burden of hearing disorders in newborns and suggest strategies to overcome implementation challenges.
• To propose a conceptual framework for a National Infant Screening for Hearing Program.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of the prevalence and impact of hearing impairment in Indian infants.
• Review of existing infrastructure and resources for potential utilization in screening programs.
• Development of a conceptual framework for a national screening and intervention program.

Main Results:

• The study underscores the significant burden of hearing impairment in Indian infants and the lack of timely intervention.
• It identifies opportunities for leveraging existing resources to establish a national screening program.
• A conceptual framework for a National Infant Screening for Hearing Program is proposed.

Conclusions:

• Timely hearing screening and intervention are essential to mitigate the severe consequences of hearing impairment in infants.
• A structured National Infant Screening for Hearing Program is necessary to address this public health issue in India.
• The proposed framework offers a roadmap for implementing such a program effectively.