Report of the Department of Health / New Zealand.

  • New Zealand. Department of Health.
Date:
[1984]
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: Report of the Department of Health / New Zealand. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    6/96 (page 6)
    Where hearing impairment is not prevented, early detection is essential so that adequate management can be given. The earlier detection occurs, the greater the likely gains in speech and language skills. In 1973 only 11 percent of deaf children were diagnosed before their first birthday and nearly half remained undetected by 3 years of age; now an estimated 29 percent are diagnosed before their first birthday. Various measures have been taken to improve the detection rate still further. In 1982 a neonatal deafness screening programme was started. Doctors and nurses are asked to identify newborn babies with various risk factors—heredity, rubella, immaturity, malform¬ ation, jaundice, meningitis, and severe asphyxia. Babies with these risk factors have a far greater likelihood of deafness and, once identified, are kept under surveillance to ensure that their hearing is fully checked during the first year of life. Greatest improvement is expected to come from increasing the awareness of parents and health professionals of the problem, with full audiological investigation for children in whom there is any suspicion of deafness. The Health and Development Record, which since June 1982 has been issued free to parents on the birth of each child, contains information to alert parents to the possibility of deafness. Some cases of congenital deafness are familial and may be prevented by adequate genetic counselling. This topic is covered in Recording Child Health and Development, to be published by the department in 1984. Doctors are being encouraged to have the cause of every case of congenital deafness investigated; a protocol for this is being tested by the National Acoustics Centre and the Otological Department at Greenlane Hospital. If a genetic cause is suspected, referral to a specialist or medical geneticist is advised. The counselling of deaf adolescents before they leave school is also recognised to be important, and this is a matter which will receive the consideration of the Committee on Hearing. Reference has been made to the need for adequate audiological assessment, which is vital for the success of hearing programmes. Audiological services are now provided in the ear, nose, and throat departments of most major hospitals. To increase the number of audiologists available, each year since 1982 the department has provided the salary and expenses for up to 4 students to undertake the 1-year audiology course in Melbourne. This has resulted in an expansion of audiological services throughout the country. Otitis Media in Childhood Chronic suppurative otitis media (CSOM), which often leads to hearing impairment, has long been a problem especially in Maori children in the central and northern North Island. It has now reduced markedly in most areas, largely