DUBAI // Every newborn will have a hearing test in a new screening system to be introduced this year.
Many parents are unaware of the importance of hearing checks, a study suggests. Of 523 mothers who took part, 35 per cent had a family history of hearing problems but 62 per cent said their babies had not had a hearing test.
The results of the study show that “hearing impairment is at risk of hindering the health and restricting the potential of many members of our community”, said Dr Hussain Abdul Rahman Al Rand, an assistant under secretary at the Ministry of Health.
Dr Ahmad Alamadi, an ear, nose and throat consultant and medical director at Al Baraha Hospital in Dubai, said: “We could go the same way as other countries that make it optional, but when it is compulsory … there can be monitoring to ensure all hospitals are screening babies before they are discharged.”
Undetected hearing problems can lead to speech development problems.
Hearing tests on babies come in two forms. The otoacoustic emission test and a brain response test evaluate the conduction of noise to nerves, with rates picked up from a machine. Every hospital will have access to a machine when the new tests are introduced.
Headphones are placed on the baby in a quiet room and they are given either a pass or fail indicator.
If the test result is a fail, the baby will be referred to an ear, nose and throat centre for further tests.
It is thought the new test will be covered by health insurance.
“Mothers with a newborn baby are often so busy and tired, they may forget to go back to the hospital, so we have adopted a stringent follow-up policy,” said Dr Muna Tahlak, chief executive of Latifa Hospital in Dubai, where hearing tests for newborns within 48 hours of birth were introduced in 2014.
“The initiative has been successful and the hospital has received positive feedback from parents.”
Dr Ahmad Alamadi, an ear, nose and throat consultant and medical director at Al Baraha Hospital in Dubai, said: “There can be monitoring to ensure all hospitals are screening babies before they are discharged.”
Undetected hearing problems can lead to speech development problems. Hearing tests on babies come in two forms. The otoacoustic emission test and a brain response test evaluate the conduction of noise to nerves, with rates picked up from a machine. Every hospital will have access to a machine when the new tests are introduced.
Headphones are placed on the baby in a quiet room and they are given either a pass or fail indicator. If the test result is a fail, the baby will be referred to an ear, nose and throat centre for further tests.
It is thought the new test will be covered by health insurance.
“Mothers with a newborn baby are often so busy and tired, they may forget to go back to the hospital, so we have adopted a stringent follow-up policy,” said Dr Muna Tahlak, chief executive of Latifa Hospital in Dubai, where hearing tests for newborns within 48 hours of birth were introduced in 2014.
“The initiative has been successful and the hospital has received positive feedback from parents.”
nwebster@thenational.ae