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298432
Newborn Hearing Screening - Good News, but Not Just for Babies!
Tuesday, November 18, 2014
: 5:10 PM - 5:30 PM
Research shows that populations in developing countries often have a disproportionately higher prevalence of hearing and speech-language disorders. People in Pacific Island nations that are politically connected with the United States have the highest rates of chronic middle ear disease. These nations lie in an expanse of ocean larger than the continental U.S. Consisting of thousands of tiny islands with small populations, they have no local ENT specialist or audiologist. Thus, screening, diagnostic and intervention services for hearing health are unavailable to these people with high need. Poverty, inadequate infrastructure, and vast geographical distances between islands confound efforts to develop needed medical and therapeutic services. The good news is that, because of U.S. national interest and legislation for identifying deaf babies at birth, federal funds are available for newborn hearing screening in these small nations. Further,
after services are provided to babies identified by the programs through screening programs, diagnostic services, and visiting specialists, these expanded resources provide access to hearing health for older children and adults. Additionally, newborn hearing screening programs are a venue for raising awareness of the importance of good hearing among the local population and policymakers. Thus, newborn hearing screening is “good news” not just for babies!
This presentation describes how newborn hearing screening in Pacific nations provides a pathway to social justice to global hearing health for the many persons born before newborn hearing screening became a reality. The presentation will also discuss ways of creating sustainability.
Learning Areas:
Administration, management, leadership
Advocacy for health and health education
Chronic disease management and prevention
Diversity and culture
Other professions or practice related to public health
Provision of health care to the public
Learning Objectives:
Describe the limits of access to hearing health care in rural areas
Identify some solutions to improve access to hearing health care
Evaluate options for sustainability
Keyword(s): Rural Health, Asian and Pacific Islanders
Presenting author's disclosure statement:Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I have been working in the Pacific Islands for more than four decades. I have been one of the early leaders in the field of newborn hearing screening.
Any relevant financial relationships? No
I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines,
and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed
in my presentation.
