Celebrating 20 Years of Newborn Hearing Screening
Congratulations to our Newborn Hearing Screening Service as we celebrate 20 years since the programme began in July 2005.
The team has grown to seven members – most of whom have been working in the service for over a decade. Every day brings something different, from screening on noisy bustling wards to screening for babies in NICU.
Technology has come a long way since the early days. Screening equipment used to be bulkier and less mobile, but it’s now handheld, making it easier and more efficient to use across our busy wards.
Since the programme began, 114,565 babies have been screened for hearing loss. Of the 3,782 babies referred to Audiology, 265 were diagnosed with a permanent childhood hearing impairment (PCHI).
On average, 1 to 2 babies in every 1,000 are diagnosed with hearing loss each year. For premature babies who have spent more than 48 hours on NICU, this increases to 1 in 100.
Helen Blackburn, Newborn Hearing Screening Programme Manager in Audiology, said: “Screening a baby can be carried out when they are only a few hours old and takes just a few minutes. A small, soft ear tip is placed into the ear, and soft clicking sounds are played. When a hearing ear receives the sound, a response from the cochlea is picked up by the equipment.”
Lyndal Edwards, Newborn Hearing Screener, added: “I joined the Newborn Hearing Screening team in December 2013 and am so lucky to absolutely love my job. I really enjoy meeting parents and babies from all walks of life. The screening programme can potentially make a massive difference to the development of babies identified with a hearing loss.”
Jeanette Dennes, Newborn Hearing Screener, said: “I’m lucky, as I work in Audiology as well, so I get to see the full process from screen to hearing aid fitting – which I find really rewarding.”
Helen added: “Having a hearing loss can significantly affect a baby’s development. Detecting it early gives the baby a greater chance of developing language, speech and communication skills. Their families also get the support they need. This is why the Newborn Hearing Screening Service is so important – so here’s to another 20 years!”