The Infant Hearing Screening Program was developed in consultation with ENT Doctors, most particularly Dr. Eka Putra and Dr. Wayan Suardana of Sanglah Hospital, who developed a paper outlining a National Strategy for the Identification of Hearing Loss in Newborn Infants.
Every child born in these hospitals will have their hearing tested and those who are found to have problems will then have further tests done either at CV LUMINA or at one of the other private practices in Denpasar. If a child can have his/her hearing improved by the use of aids or cochlear implants, the chances of a more normal childhood are greatly enhanced. The CV LUMINA staff work with the staff of these three hospitals in both the testing as well as the counseling for the families.
We plan to have an OAE screening procedure in each of several major hospitals in Bali. It is consistent in philosophy and application with other international screening programs.
The goal of the program is to identify infants born with hearing loss and begin treatment that will see them fitted appropriately with hearing aids before they reach 1 year of age. That way they will have the best possible chance to learn to speak.
OAE screening programs are used world wide to identify infants with hearing loss at birth. There is a great deal of evidence to support the proactive treatment of hearing loss as early as possible.
Physicians in Bali are well aware of these developments and very interested and supportive of this screening program. A pilot program was conducted in 2009 at three Bali Hospitals and the use of the equipment, data collected, and administrative issues were identified.
Objectives:
- To screen infants before they leave the hospital for hearing problems
- To do further testing on those infants who fail the hearing screening
- To outfit said infant with hearing aids if needed
We will implement this program by:
- Conducting hearing screening in nine of Bali’s hospitals
- Hold a teaching program and/or seminar to further educate physicians. This is being done in response to requests from physicians and will be professionally supported through the efforts of Volunteer Audiologists from Australia.
- On a regular monthly basis CV Lumina staff visit the hospitals to ensure that equipment is working well and staff knows how to care for and use it.
This project is made possible through funding by:
Greg Evans and family of Australia for their monthly donations to help offset costs in the Guided Study after school program for first graders.
Chris and Mary Hill of Perth, Australia held a joint Garden Party Fundraiser with ABC Radio and raised funds for the hearing programs.
The Fischer family of Switzerland for sponsoring hearing aids for nine children in the SLBB schools
