|
|
Audiology
|
The NDCS campaigned for ten years for the introduction of Newborn Hearing Screening, whereby babies are screened for deafness within the first weeks of birth. John Hutton, Minister of State for Health, announced the introduction of a pilot programme at the NDCS Paediatric Audiology Healthcare Conference in June 2001.
Newborn Hearing Screening is now rolling out across England and by the end of 2004 all babies should be screened for deafness. It is also rolling out in Northern Ireland, Wales and Scotland.
This represents the beginning of the end for the late diagnosis of deafness. This is vitally important, as research has shown that children who are identified as deaf before the age of six months can develop language at the same rate as a hearing child.
To build on the opportunities this provides for deaf children, we need your support in influencing:
- an end to the shortfall in qualified and experienced paediatric audiologists, especially those trained to support families with newly diagnosed deaf babies and infants.
- consistent quality and provision of paediatric audiology services across the UK, and minimum waiting times for referrals.
- access for all deaf children to the most appropriate hearing aids for their needs, with widest possible choice for clinicians of instruments and instrument manufacturers.
For the latest news on audiology and other issues click here: www.ndcs.org.uk/news_media/press_releases/index.html
|
|
|
|
