NIDCD Launches Campaign to Protect the Hearing of Tweens
from NIH News
A new campaign to help parents of 8- to 12-year-olds teach their children how to avoid hearing loss from overexposure to loud noise was launched today by the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD), part of the National Institutes of Health. The new campaign, called It’s a Noisy Planet. Protect Their Hearing., features a new Web site that offers advice to parents on the causes and prevention of noise-induced hearing loss, how to recognize when a child’s hearing is at risk, and ways to reduce noise exposure. The site contains games, posters, and interactive information about noise and hearing loss tailored specifically for tweens.
Information about support services for families of young children with hearing loss: A review of some useful outcomes and challenges
from Deafness and Education International
This paper is concerned with reviewing some useful effects of information about support services provided to families of young children with hearing loss and the challenges of providing this information to families. Evidence indicates that 95 per cent of young children with hearing loss have hearing parents. With no previous experience of hearing loss, these families are faced with numerous challenges in raising these children. They require timely and unbiased information that could enable them to respond appropriately to their emotional reactions to the diagnosis of hearing loss, participate actively in early intervention and educational programmes for their children, and collaborate effectively with professionals. Evidence indicates that families of young children with hearing loss may not receive such information. The implication of this as well as some strategies that could be explored to ensure that these families receive timely information about the developmental needs of their children are considered. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Hearing aids and tinnitus therapy: a 25-year experience
from the Journal of Laryngology and Otology
Objectives: (1) To assess the subjective tinnitus perception of patients with audiologically proven hearing loss presenting to a tinnitus clinic, both before and after hearing aid provision; (2) to investigate subjective tinnitus perception in patients with unilateral and bilateral hearing loss; and (3) to assess the impact on tinnitus perception, if any, of a digital hearing aid programme in patients provided with hearing aids.
Design: Prospective data collection for patients attending a tinnitus clinic over a 25-year period (1980–2004).
Setting: University teaching hospital otolaryngology department.
Participants: A total of 2153 consecutive patients attending a consultant-delivered specialist tinnitus clinic.
Main outcomes measures: A visual analogue scale was used to assess the degree of tinnitus perception improvement, if any, comparing before versus after unilateral or bilateral aiding (in those with audiometrically proven hearing loss). A further assessment compared the effect of digital hearing aid programme introduction on symptomatic tinnitus perception in patients provided with unilateral or bilateral aids.
Results: A total of 1440 patients were given hearing aids (826 unilateral and 614 bilateral). There was little difference in tinnitus perception, comparing overall aiding results in unilaterally or bilaterally aided patients. Overall, 554 (67 per cent) of unilaterally aided patients and 424 (69 per cent) of bilaterally aided patients reported some improvement in their tinnitus perception following aiding. There was a statistically significant improvement in tinnitus perception, comparing analogue aids with digital hearing aids, following introduction of a digital hearing aid programme in 2000, in both unilaterally (p < 0.001) and bilaterally (p < 0.001) aided patients.
Conclusions: Provision of hearing aids in patients with audiometrically demonstrable hearing loss can play a very important part in tinnitus control. The additional improvement in tinnitus control observed following introduction of programmable digital aids had a summative effect in the management of these patients.
Steroid treatment of hearing loss in enlarged vestibular aqueduct anomaly
from the International Journal of Pediatric Otorhinolaryngology
Objective
1. Determine whether corticosteroid therapy improves hearing thresholds of patients with enlarged vestibular aqueduct (EVA) anomaly. 2. Determine sample size for a future prospective study.
Methods
Retrospective chart review hearing loss in EVA patients comparing patients treated with corticosteroids and untreated patients.
Results
Eighty percent (n = 5) of patients treated with steroids for hearing loss demonstrated audiometric improvement, compared to 14.3% of patients (n = 7) not treated. The pure tone average improved by 17.7 dB in the steroid treated group. A prospective, placebo-controlled trial would need between 19 and 45 patients in each group, treatment versus no-treatment, to achieve statistical significance.
Conclusion
Patients with EVA who develop hearing loss have a high rate of hearing improvement when treated with corticosteroid therapy. The hearing improvement appears to be better than spontaneous recovery.
Twenty years of audiology in a patient with Norrie disease
from the International Journal of Pediatric Otorhinolaryngology
Objective
To describe disease progression and treatment outcomes over a 20-year period (ages 5–25) in a young man with Norrie disease (occuloacousticocerebral dysplasia), ND; OMIM #310600. Affected individuals are born blind and develop progressive sensory loss with onset in adolescence. This disease is X-linked and has been associated with mutations of the NDP gene (Xp11.4).
Methods
The patient was followed using repeated audiograms, as well as reports of educational progress and hearing aid use. The specific mutation was found by molecular analysis.
Results
The patient demonstrated progressive sensory loss with good preservation of word recognition. The loss was initially high frequency and asymmetric in adolescence and became more severe, more symmetric and affected practically all frequencies by the end of childhood. Educational progress was affected by the cognitive effects of the syndrome, and hearing aid use was very effective.
Conclusions
A bilateral progressive sensory loss with good preservation of word recognition was documented in detail. The residual word recognition supported good use of hearing aids in this case.
Audiologic and vestibular findings in a sample of Human Immunodeficiency Virus type-1-infected Mexican children under Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy
from the International Journal of Pediatric Otorhinolaryngology
Objective
There is little information about audiologic and vestibular disorders in pediatric patients infected with the Human Immunodeficiency Virus type-1 (HIV-1). The aim of this study was to evaluate audiologic and vestibular disorders in a sample of HIV-1-infected children receiving Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy.
Methods
Patients underwent pure tone audiometry, speech discrimination testing, auditory brainstem responses, electronystagmography, and rotatory testing. HIV-1 viral load and absolute CD4+ cell counts were registered.
Results
Twenty-three patients were included, aged 4.5 years (median, range 5 months to 16 years). Pure tone audiometry was carried out in 12 children over 4 years of age: 4 (33%) showed hearing loss, 2 were conductive. Auditory brainstem responses were measured in all 23 patients, suggesting conductive hearing loss in 6 and sensorineural hearing loss in 2. Most patients with conductive hearing loss had the antecedent of acute or chronic suppurative otitis media but with dry ears at the time of evaluation (p = 0.003). Abnormal prolongations of interwave intervals in auditory brainstem responses were observed in 3 children (13%, 4 ears), an abnormal morphology in different components of auditory brainstem responses in 4 (17.4%, 7 ears), and abnormal amplitude patterns in 11 patients (48%, 17 ears). Vestibular tests were abnormal in all six patients tested, with asymmetries in caloric and rotatory tests. Although differences were not significant, in general, audiologic abnormalities were more frequent in patients with more prolonged HIV-1 infections, higher viral loads, or lower absolute CD4+ cell counts.
Conclusions
Conductive hearing loss associated with previous otitis media events, abnormalities in auditory brainstem responses suggesting disorders at different levels of the auditory pathways, and unilateral vestibular hyporeflexia were frequent findings in our sample of HIV-1-infected children under Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy. These findings suggest that HIV-1-infected children should be submitted to audiologic and vestibular evaluation as early as possible in order to reduce their impact on the psychosocial development of these patients.
36 Million Americans Affected By Hearing Loss
Hearing loss currently affects more than 36 million Americans. Although hearing problems are commonly associated with the normal aging process, more than half of all hearing-impaired persons are younger than 65. With the increased use of personal music players (MP3 players) and earbuds, the number of Americans experiencing hearing loss at a younger age is growing.
Towards integrated practices in early detection of and intervention for deaf and hard of hearing children
from the American Annals of the Deaf
It is well documented that undetected hearing loss can have a profound effect on a child’s holistic development, including communicative, language and cognitive development. It is crucial therefore that deaf and hard of hearing infants are detected as early as possible so that appropriate intervention services and support can be initiated. To assist parents in enabling their child’s optimal growth and development, HI HOPES-the first South African home-based early intervention project-was launched in August 2006, offering families weekly home-based support that is both child-centred and family-directed. A critical overview of the pilot implementation of HI HOPES is presented, from inception to implementation, focusing on its innovative services and practices, and issues that influence the intervention process including a reflection on the challenges and areas for development.
Absence of GJB3 and GJB6 mutations in Moroccan familial and sporadic patients with autosomal recessive non-syndromic deafness
from the International Journal of Pediatric Otorhinolaryngology
Deafness is an etiologically heterogeneous trait with a wide variety of genetic and environmental causes. It is generally considered that genetic factors account for at least half of all cases of profound congenital deafness, which can be classified in two categories – dominant or recessive – according to the mode of inheritance and in two types – syndromic or non-syndromic – according to the presence or absence of some other specific clinical features. Mutations in the gene GJB2, encoding the gap junction protein connexion 26, are considered to be responsible for up to 50% of familial cases of autosomal recessive non-syndromic hearing loss and for up to 15–30% of the sporadic cases. It has also been reported that mutations in the GJB6 and GJB3 genes contribute to autosomal recessive and autosomal dominant hearing defects in many populations.
Sudden hearing loss in a family with GJB2 related progressive deafness
from the International Journal of Pediatric Otorhinolaryngology
Mutations of GJB2, the gene encoding connexin 26, have been associated with prelingual, sensorineural hearing loss of mild to profound severity. One specific mutation, the 35delG, has accounted for the majority of mutations detected in the GJB2 gene in Caucasian populations. Recent studies have described progression of hearing loss in a proportion of cases with GJB2 deafness. We report an unusual family with four 35delG homozygous members, in which the parents were deaf-mute whilst both children had a postlingual progressive hearing loss. Furthermore, the son suffered from sudden hearing loss.
Cutting Edge Discussion On Age-Related Hearing Loss
Leading experts in the study of hair cells and hearing loss discussed state-of-the art developments in determining the genetic and environmental factors that cause Age-Related Hearing Impairment (ARHI) at the 2008 American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery Foundation (AAO-HNSF) Annual Meeting & OTO EXPO, in Chicago, IL.
The Role of the Amplified Telephone in the Lives of People with Hearing Loss
from The Hearing Review
Although amplified telephones may not permanently replace comprehensive hearing solutions, such as hearing aids or cochlear implants, hearing care is moving in the right direction by supporting them as a supplementary option.
Cutting edge discussion on age-related hearing loss
from EurekAlert.org
Leading experts in the study of hair cells and hearing loss will discuss state-of-the art developments in determining the genetic and environmental factors that cause Age-Related Hearing Impairment (ARHI) at the 2008 American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery Foundation (AAO-HNSF) Annual Meeting & OTO EXPO, in Chicago, IL.
Geriatric patients receive significant benefit from cochlear implantation
from EurekAlert.org
Despite previous inconclusive research, geriatric patients do experience significant quality of life improvement (QOL) after receiving cochlear implants for hearing loss, says new research presented at the 2008 American Academy of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery Foundation (AAO-HNSF) Annual Meeting & OTO EXPO in Chicago, IL.
Monotic auditory processing disorder tests in the older adult population
from the Journal of the American Academy of Audiology
The purpose of this study was to determine if peripheral hearing loss of varying degrees in elderly subjects affected performance on monotic auditory processing disorder (APD) tests. A battery of monotic APD tests was administered to a group of well-educated and high-functioning older adults who were divided into three subgroups based on hearing acuity but similar in age: (1) normal hearing out to 4000 Hz with a slight high-frequency slope above that point, (2) normal hearing in the speech range but greater high-frequency loss (sloping configuration), and (3) hearing loss in both the low and high frequencies (low/high). The findings documented that subjects with normal hearing in the speech range performed well on all the APD tests. The subjects in the two hearing loss groups, however, performed more poorly on certain tests. The low/high loss subjects did significantly poorer than did the sloping subjects. These data suggest that low/high-frequency peripheral hearing loss is a factor for poor performance on certain monotic APD tests. Results further showed that when cognitive ability and presentation level are held constant, chronological age does not appear to be a contributing factor to performance on the majority of these monotic APD tests. If APD tests are to be administered to elder subjects, peripheral hearing loss configuration needs to be documented. For subjects with low/high-frequency losses, the tester needs to be aware that serious contamination of the results may occur.
Drug Related Hearing Loss And Deafness
As part of an ongoing consumer education and hearing health awareness campaign, which includes informational videos, an “Ask An Expert” forum, and the recently released “Hearing And Balance Report,” AuDNet, Inc. has created a tip sheet for consumers that reveals certain over the counter and prescription drugs that may generate temporary and permanent hearing loss or deafness.
The tectorial membrane: one slice of a complex cochlear sandwich
from Current Opinion in Otolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery
Purpose of review: The review is both timely and relevant, as recent findings have shown the tectorial membrane plays a more dynamic role in hearing than hitherto suspected, and that many forms of deafness can result from mutations in tectorial membrane proteins.
Recent findings: Main themes covered are the molecular composition, the structural organization and properties of the tectorial membrane, the role of the tectorial membrane as a second resonator and a structure within which there is significant longitudinal coupling, and how mutations in tectorial membrane proteins cause deafness in mice and men.
Conclusion: Findings from experimental models imply that the tectorial membrane plays multiple, critical roles in hearing. These include coupling elements along the length of the cochlea, supporting a travelling wave and ensuring the gain and timing of cochlear feedback are optimal. The clinical findings suggest stable, moderate-to-severe forms of hereditary hearing loss may be diagnostic of a mutation in TECTA, a gene encoding one of the major, noncollagenous proteins of the tectorial membrane.
Auditory speech sounds evaluation (A§E®): a new test to assess detection, discrimination and identification in hearing impairment
from Cochlear Implants Internations
This paper describes a set of suprathreshold tests, available as a software package (A§E®), for the auditory evaluation of the hearing impaired. It uses isolated speech sounds as test material for a discrimination, identification and detection test, and is specifically suited to test preverbal children. All tests allow strict analytical interpretation. The test material and procedures are described. Their clinical use is illustrated. The authors claim that suprathreshold tests are feasible in the preverbal child, allowing analytical evaluation of the auditory capacities. These tests are complementary to the routinely used detection tests and add significantly to the hearing evaluation in preverbal children. The authors recommend the phoneme discrimination test for selection of cochlear implant candidates and for the evaluation and fitting of cochlear implants. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The diagnosis of autoimmune inner ear disease: evidence and critical pitfalls
from the European Archives of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology
Abstract The purpose of this paper is to review the current diagnostic work-up for patients with suspected Autoimmune Inner Ear Disease (AIED). AIED is a rare disease accounting for less than 1% of all cases of hearing impairment or dizziness, characterized by a rapidly progressive, often fluctuating, bilateral SNHL over a period of weeks to months. While specific tests for autoimmunity to the inner ear would be valuable, at the time of writing, there are none that are both commercially available and proven to be useful. Thus far, most of the identified antigens lack a clear association with localized inner ear pathology and the diagnosis of AIED is based either on clinical criteria and/or on a positive response to steroids. For clinical practice, we recommend an antigen-non-specific test battery including blood test for autoimmune disorders and for conditions that resemble autoimmune disorders. Nevertheless, if financial resources are limited, a very restricted work-up study may have a similar efficiency.
Vestibular function in families with inherited autosomal dominant hearing loss
from the Journal of Vestibular Research
The inner ear contains the developmentally related cochlea and peripheral vestibular labyrinth. Given the similar physiology between these two organs, hearing loss and vestibular dysfunction may be expected to occur simultaneously in individuals segregating mutations in inner ear genes. Twenty-two different genes have been discovered that when mutated lead to non-syndromic autosomal dominant hearing loss. A review of the literature indicates that families segregating mutations in 13 of these 22 genes have undergone formal clinical vestibular testing. Formal assessment revealed vestibular dysfunction in families with mutations in ten of these 13 genes. Remarkably, only families with mutations in the COCH and MYO7A genes self-report considerable vestibular challenges. Families segregating mutations in the other eight genes do not self-report significant balance problems and appear to compensate well in everyday life for vestibular deficits discovered during formal clinical vestibular assessment. An example of a family (referred to as the HL1 family) with progressive hearing loss and clinically-detected vestibular hypofunction that does not report vestibular symptoms is described in this review. Notably, one member of the HL1 family with clinically-detected vestibular hypofunction reached the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro.
Early Language Outcomes of Early-Identified Infants With Permanent Hearing Loss at 12 to 16 Months of Age
from Pediatrics
OBJECTIVES. The objectives of this study were to determine the early language outcomes of children with mild to profound hearing loss, compared with hearing control children, at 12 to 16 months of age and to examine the effects of “very early” enrollment (3 months) in early intervention.
METHODS. This was a prospective longitudinal study of the outcomes of a cohort of 30 infants identified in the Rhode Island universal newborn hearing screening program and 96 hearing control subjects. Eligible families with children with all degrees of congenital hearing loss were invited to enroll. Child language skills were assessed by using the MacArthur-Bates Communicative Development Inventory, Words and Gestures, at 12 to 16 months.
RESULTS. Children with moderate/profound hearing loss had significantly lower numbers of phrases understood, words understood, and early, later, and total gestures, compared with children with mild/minimal hearing loss and hearing control subjects. Furthermore, children with hearing loss who were enrolled in early intervention at 3 months had significantly higher percentile scores for number of words understood, words produced, and early, later, and total gestures, compared with those enrolled at >3 months. Regression analyses to test the independent effects on language skills of children with hearing loss identified enrollment in early intervention at 3 months as an independent predictor of percentile scores for word and early gesture production.
CONCLUSIONS. Very early enrollment (3 months) in early intervention has beneficial effects on early language for children with hearing loss. Nevertheless, 12- to 16-month-old children with moderate/profound hearing loss exhibit delayed receptive and expressive language skills in oral and signed English modes, compared with peers with either mild/minimal hearing loss or typical hearing sensitivity.
Biophysical Method May Help To Recover Hearing
Scientists based in Switzerland and South Africa have created a biophysical methodology that may help to overcome hearing deficits, and potentially remedy even substantial hearing loss. The authors propose a method of retuning functioning regions of the ear to recognize frequencies originally associated with damaged areas. Details are published August 29th in the open- access journal PLoS Computational Biology.
SLC26A4 c.919-2A>G varies among Chinese ethnic groups as a cause of hearing loss
from Genetics in Medicine
Purpose: Mutations in the SLC26A4 gene are second only to GJB2 mutations as a currently identifiable genetic cause of sensorineural hearing loss. In most areas of China, genetic testing for sensorineural hearing loss is unavailable because of limited knowledge of the mutation spectrum. Although SLC26A4 c.919-2A>G (IVS7-2A>G) is a common mutation among some Asian populations, the mutation prevalence among various ethnic groups within China has not been studied.
Methods: DNA specimens from 3271 subjects with moderate to profound sensorineural hearing loss from 27 regions of China were genotyped for the c.919-2A>G mutation by polymerase chain reaction/restriction-fragment-length polymorphism. Normal hearing controls from Han (n = 185) and Uigur (n = 152) populations were also tested.
Results: Overall, 408 subjects with sensorineural hearing loss (12.5%) carried at least one c.919-2A>G allele, with 158 (4.8%) homozygotes and 250 (7.6%) heterozygotes. Within the subpopulations examined, the rate varies from 0% to 12.2% for c.919-2A>G homozygotes and from 0% to 17.6% for heterozygotes. Based on this cohort, Chinese subjects with sensorineural hearing loss seem to have a relatively higher c.919-2A>G frequency than that of other Asian populations.
Conclusion: These results demonstrate that a simple and efficient genetic test for the c.919-2A>G mutation alone would identify the molecular cause in up to 8-12% of individuals with sensorineural hearing loss in a few eastern and central regions of China. Those who are negative for the c.919-2A>G mutation would be candidates for further mutational analysis of SLC26A4 or other deafness-related genes. This would greatly improve genetic diagnosis and counseling for a huge number of Chinese individuals and family members with sensorineural hearing loss in China, and many more ethnic Chinese in other countries, which might be up to one million.
FDA Allows Phase 2 Study For Sound Pharmaceuticals’ Novel Drug To Prevent Chemotherapy Induced Hearing Loss
from News-Medical.net
Sound Pharmaceuticals (SPI) has received FDA notification that it may proceed with its Phase II study to prevent chemotherapy induced hearing loss.
New Form of Hearing Loss
from Ivanhoe.com
For those who inherited their hearing loss, a new discovery may take away the mystery surrounding their condition. After years of research, scientists have identified a new form of hereditary deafness.
Audiologic management of a patient with a sudden hearing loss and vestibular schwannoma in the contralateral ear
from the Journal of the American Academy of Audiology
The case of a 59-year-old male with a sudden-onset sensorineural hearing loss in one ear and an incidental finding of an intracanalicular vestibular schwannoma in the contralateral, normally hearing ear is reported. The patient was successfully fitted with a hearing aid in the ear with the sudden hearing loss, which notably had very poor word recognition. The questionable value of word-recognition scores in determining hearing aid candidacy is discussed. The importance of considering nonaudiologic factors in determining hearing aid candidacy is also highlighted.
Hearing loss and speech privacy in the health care setting: a case study
from the Journal of the American Academy of Audiology
Ensuring speech privacy has become an important consideration in the design of health care environments. The Healthcare Insurance Portability and Accountability Act requirements include the establishment of reasonable technical and procedural methods to protect patient privacy. However, specific standards for meeting speech privacy requirements are not currently established. This article presents a case study of two clinical environments, one where speech privacy was judged by health care workers to be adequate and one where speech privacy was judged to be inadequate. Careful study of both environments revealed three factors that led to the perception of inadequate speech privacy. First, sound attenuation between adjacent rooms was slightly poorer by 5 dB in the inadequate environments. Second, ambient noise levels were lower by 9 dB in the inadequate environment. Finally, geriatric patients with hearing loss prompted health care workers to increase their speech intensity, decrease language complexity, and decrease the speed at which speech was articulated. These factors made it more probable that speech was overheard and understood. Existing methods to calculate speech privacy in health care settings need to consider the effect of hearing loss on the acoustics of the oral communication transaction.
The frequency of auditory neuropathy detected by universal newborn hearing screening program
from the International Journal of Pediatric Otorhinolaryngology
Objective
Auditory neuropathy/auditory dyssynchrony (AN/AD) has become a well-accepted clinical entity. The combined use of oto-acoustic emissions (OAEs) and auditory brainstem response (ABR) testing in the universal newborn hearing screening (UNHS) has led to the easy recognition of this disorder. Although, we are now able to diagnose AN/AD reliably, little is known about its epidemiology, etiology, and especially the frequency of its occurrence. The primary goal of this study was to determine the frequency of AN/AD in the Western Anatolian region of Turkey. The secondary goal was to compare the detection rate of AN/AD before and after the implementation of the UNHS in the audiology department of Dokuz Eylul University Hospital.
Method
Between 2005 and 2007, among the 23,786 newborns who were screened by automated click evoked oto-acoustic emissions (a-CEOAE) and automated auditory brainstem responses (a-ABRs), 2236 were referred to our department. All necessary audiological tests were performed for all the referred newborns. Among them, babies with deficient or abnormal ABR in combination with normal OAEs were considered as having AN/AD. These babies were evaluated with additional diagnostic audiological tests. Furthermore, comparison of the incidence of children diagnosed with AN/AD before and after the implementation of UNHS in our audiology department was also performed.
Results
Among the referred newborns, 65 had abnormal or deficient ABR test results. Ten of these 65 newborn babies (mean diagnostic age: 5.7 months) with hearing impairment showed electrophysiological test results that were consistent with AN/AD. The frequency of AN/AD in these 65 children with hearing loss was 15.38%. Moreover, the frequency of AN/AD within UNHS was found to be 0.044%. Seven of the 10 babies with AN/AD had hyperbilirubinemia as a risk factor, which is a high rate to be emphasized. On the other hand, the retrospective investigation of children diagnosed with AN/AD in the same audiology department between 1999 and 2005 (i.e. before the implementation of UNHS) revealed only 7 children, with an average diagnostic age of 34 months.
Conclusion
After implementing the UNHS, the incidence of AN/AD in the audiology department increased from 1.16 to 4.13. Furthermore, the age of diagnosis of AN/AD decreased from 34 months to 5.7 months. This study shows that AN/AD, when screened, is a comparatively common disorder in the population of hearing-impaired infants. While newborn hearing screening provides early detection of babies with hearing loss, it also helps to differentiate AN/AD cases when the screening is performed with both a-ABR and automated oto-acoustic emission (a-OAE) tests. Thus, the routine combined use of a-ABR and a-OAE tests in UNHS programs, especially for the high-risk infants, can provide better detection of newborns with AN/AD. Furthermore, hyperbilirubinemia is merely an association and maybe etiologically linked.
Screening: Higher Rates of Hearing Loss Are Found
from the New York Times
A new study suggests that hearing loss among Americans may be more widespread than believed.
Parents’ experiences in a locally initiated newborn hearing screening program
from the Canadian Journal of Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology
This exploratory qualitative study presents an in-depth look at the experiences of five parents whose children were diagnosed with a hearing loss through newborn hearing screening. The screening was implemented as part of a research project in four health regions in Alberta. The funding for this project covered only newborn hearing screening, with referral to diagnosis. Program restructuring that allowed seamless transitions from screening to diagnosis and intervention services could not be funded, so parents needed to access already existing support services and programs. The parents in this study shared their experiences pertaining to the screening and diagnostic process and their transition to intervention programs. The following three major themes emerged from the parents’stories as they shared their perspectives: (a) experiencing and dealing with the screening and diagnosis, (b) interacting with professionals, and (c) coping and realizing additional areas of need. The findings of the study indicate that the parents experience significant challenges as they navigate the process. The stories of parents provide valuable insights into their own strengths and how screening services, professional interactions, and the process of empowering parents can be improved.
About the Callier Library
Callier Library is a satellite facility of The University of Texas at Dallas, McDermott Library. It is located at the Dallas, Texas campus of the Callier Center for Communication Disorders. The library supports the graduate-level programs and faculty in communications sciences which are located at the center. It also supports the work of clinicians in hearing and speech disorders who work at both campuses of the Callier Center. One of the missions of Callier Library is to be a useful source of information to the international community of researchers and clinicians in communication disorders. To that end, this web log of citations and news in the field has been built and maintained by Allen Clayton, the Callier Center Librarian.
Note: These news items are gleaned from over 400 sources on the Internet and are provided as a service to our patrons. The University of Texas at Dallas does not guarantee the veracity, reliability or completeness of any information provided on this page, or in any hyperlink appearing on this page
