A local rehabilitation service for children with hearing loss

Abstract

Objectives to discuss the issues of inter-disciplinary cooperation for improvement the pediatric audiological care using modern technologies for hearing restoration. Material and methods. An epidemiological study of hearing impairments in 3098 children registered in the Center of Pediatric Audiology (St. Petersburg) and analysis of the city pediatric audiological services were carried out. Results. The introduction of the universal newborn hearing screening helped to diagnose hearing loss in children under 1 year of age in 47% of cases. Before the screening implementation, it was diagnosed in 22% of cases. The hearing screening results testify that 26% of children meet modern requirements of early diagnosis (under 3 months) of congenital hearing loss. 54% of children registered in the Audiology Center are using hearing aids or cochlear implants. The mean age of initial amplification is 3 years 8 months. 5.4% of children got amplification under 6 months of age, 20% of children - under 1 year and 58% - under 3 years. The mean interval between diagnosis and amplification was 15.7 months, only 24% of children got amplification within 3 months after being diagnosed. A system of family-centered medical, psychological and pedagogical rehabilitation of children with hearing impairments was developed at the Center of Pediatric Audiology.