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Abstract
The purpose of this study was to examine the current status of newborn/infant hearing screening programs in public sector hospitals in South Africa by means of a descriptive survey. Data was gathered using a self-administered postal questionnaire, which included questions on screening resources and protocols, follow-up, diagnostic, and information management procedures as well as timing of intervention. The questionnaire was sent to 86 speech therapy and audiology departments within public sector hospitals throughout South Africa and 44 questionnaires were returned. The findings indicated that 27% (n=12) of respondents were conducting some form of hearing screening. The most frequently reported reasons for the absence of a screening program were a lack of appropriate equipment and a shortage of staff. Institutions with active screening programs face many challenges and programs are mostly unsystematic. Reported findings make a valuable contribution to the field of early hearing detection and intervention by providing a baseline for the development and structuring of early hearing detection and intervention services as a priority in the public healthcare sector of South Africa.
| Abbreviations | ||
| ABR | = | Auditory brainstem response |
| AABR | = | Automated auditory brainstem response |
| AIDS | = | Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome |
| AOAE | = | Automated (screening) otoacoustic emissions |
| BO | = | Behavioural observation |
| BOA | = | Behavioural observation audiometry |
| BCABR | = | Bone conduction auditory brainstem response |
| DPOAE | = | Distortion product otoacoustic emissions |
| EHDI | = | Early hearing detection and intervention |
| HIV | = | Human immunodeficiency virus |
| HPCSA | = | Health professions council of South Africa |
| JCIH | = | Joint Committee on Infant Hearing |
| NHS | = | Newborn hearing screening |
| NICU | = | Neonatal Intensive Care Unit |
| OAE | = | Otoacoustic emissions |
| TEOAE | = | Transient evoked otoacoustic emissions |
| Abbreviations | ||
| ABR | = | Auditory brainstem response |
| AABR | = | Automated auditory brainstem response |
| AIDS | = | Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome |
| AOAE | = | Automated (screening) otoacoustic emissions |
| BO | = | Behavioural observation |
| BOA | = | Behavioural observation audiometry |
| BCABR | = | Bone conduction auditory brainstem response |
| DPOAE | = | Distortion product otoacoustic emissions |
| EHDI | = | Early hearing detection and intervention |
| HIV | = | Human immunodeficiency virus |
| HPCSA | = | Health professions council of South Africa |
| JCIH | = | Joint Committee on Infant Hearing |
| NHS | = | Newborn hearing screening |
| NICU | = | Neonatal Intensive Care Unit |
| OAE | = | Otoacoustic emissions |
| TEOAE | = | Transient evoked otoacoustic emissions |
El propósito de este estudio fue examinar el estado actual de los programas de identificación auditiva en recién nacidos/infantes en los hospitales del sector público de Sudáfrica, por medio de una encuesta descriptiva. Los datos fueron conjuntados usando un cuestionario postal auto-administrado, que incluyó preguntas sobre recursos de evaluación y manejo de procedimientos sobre protocolos, seguimiento, diagnóstico e información, así como los tiempos de intervención. El cuestionario fue enviado a 86 departamentos de terapia de lenguaje y audiología dentro de los hospitales del sector público en África de Sur y se recuperaron 44 cuestionarios. Los hallazgos indicaron que 27% (n=12) de los que respondieron estaban conduciendo alguna forma de tamiz auditivo. Las razones más frecuentemente reportadas para la ausencia de un programa de identificación fueron la falta de equipo apropiado y las limitaciones de personal. Las instituciones con programas activos de identificación enfrentan muchos retos y sus iniciativas son poco sistemáticas. Los hallazgos reportados realizan una valiosa contribución al campo de la detección e intervención temprana, al proveer un nivel basal de referencia para desarrollar y estructurar tales servicios, como una prioridad en el sector de salud pública en Sudáfrica.