Earlier in 2014, Ireland screened the 100,000th baby to be tested for newborn hearing issues since rollout of UNHS concluded in 2013. Latest HSE figures show that:
- Each month, an average of 6,000 babies now receive a newborn hearing test.
- Of this total, 180 babies (3 per cent) are referred onward for further diagnostic testing.
- About nine babies of this total are confirmed to have permanent hearing difficulties.
- Since UNHS began in 2011, 154 babies were identified as being permanently deaf.
James Fogarty from Ireland’s Medical Independent requested comments from Sound Advice for a recent article, Sounding-Out Audiology, which notes:
While the HSE rightly comes in for criticism about some aspects of its running of the health service, this [newborn hearing tests] programme represents a real success for the Executive and the country generally.
For background, read Accreditation process for UNHS to begin shortly (Medical Independent, August 2014) and Audiology row students working with the HSE‘ (August 2014).
