This baby was fortunate to be identified through the screening programme established by the Department of Communication Pathology and the Department of Paediatrics at Kalafong hospital. The Phonak digitial hearing aids were sponsored by the
Ear Institute and provides this baby with the necessary amplification to hear his mother speak to him. He is also now receiving family-centred intervention sponsored by the
Eduplex School.
The screening programme at Kalafong hospital screens those babies at highest risk for hearing loss (e.g. those who spend time in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit). Ideally all newborn babies should be screened but risk-based screening such as the programme implemented at Kalafong is an intermediate step in a context where resources are severely limited.
Early identification of hearing loss is a very important priority because it opens the door for timely intervention which can give babies with hearing loss the opportunity to acquire language on par with their hearing peers. Unfortunately babies who do not receive such screening will not be identified early and according to current South African statistics will only be diagnosed with hearing loss after 2 years of age. This baby, however, has a bright future!
Virtual Campus
Get Social With Us
Download the UP Mobile App