Hearing tests for thousands of newborns

More than 62,000 newborn babies in Queensland were screened for hearing loss in 2012-13.

Details of the Healthy Hearing Program, which screens babies born in both public and private hospitals, were tabled in the Department of Health annual report in State Parliament today.

Health Minister Lawrence Springborg said 62,772 newborns were screened last year, which was better than 99 per cent, to detect the one in every 1,000 children born with a permanent bilateral hearing loss of moderate degree or greater.

“Testing newborn babies means that if they have hearing problems we know about it early, and if they require further treatment we can do it quickly,” Mr Springborg said.

“It also means we can allay parental concerns very quickly too.”

Teleaudiology also played a role in supporting children with hearing loss and their parents during the year.

In 2012–13, Queensland Health tested 74 infants and toddlers from the Mackay, Nambour and Hervey Bay regions using a combination of videoconferencing and remote control testing audiology equipment to diagnose hearing problems.

Additionally, childhood hearing clinics were conducted at the Mater, Royal Children’s and Townsville hospitals.

Around 150 children with a newly diagnosed hearing loss were referred to the clinics for medical investigations, developmental assessments, amplification options, counselling and early intervention counselling in one location.

Mr Springborg said the new QChild Early Hearing Detection Management and Information System was implemented in March 2013 by the Healthy Hearing Program.

“QChild is a data collection and clinical information system which is accessed by frontline staff to ensure that children with hearing loss, or at risk of hearing loss, receive timely intervention and care,” he said.
 
“QChild contains all data relating to births in Queensland and matches newborn hearing screening results to birth data to ensure a capture rate of more than 99 per cent.

“Diagnostic audiology results, family support, medical assessment and early intervention information is also collected and children diagnosed with a hearing loss, or at risk of developing a hearing loss, can be tracked using the system.”

[ENDS] 30 September 2013

Media contact: Cameron Thompson 0407 585 230