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Archive -Seychelles

Ministry introduces new hearing test for newborns |05 December 2013

New-born babies can have their hearing tested within twelve hours of birth under normal circumstances or before discharge from the maternity instead of waiting until they are nine months old as has been the case until now.

This will be possible now that the Ministry of Health has introduced the Universal Hearing Test programme, a new initiative which forms part of the ministry’s plan of action for Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE).

Tests carried out using the Oto-Acoustic Emission (OAE) Screener, (a modern technology compared to the distraction test currently being applied at nine months) identify all hearing-impaired infants at an early age, thereby prompting appropriate early childhood interventions.

The new test was officially launched last Friday by health minister Mitcy Larue during a ceremony at the Sheikh Khalifa auditorium at the Seychelles Hospital.

Three children including two babies had their hearing tested as demonstration during the launch ceremony and a group of nurses and midwives trained to deliver the tests also received their certificate .

Launching the new hearing test programme, Minister Larue described it as “a historic moment and a gigantic  step in the Seychelles ECCE endeavours”.

“This milestone event again marks achievements and progress in our child health services and also strengthens the collaboration between the Ministry of Health and its numerous partners in bringing to the forefront our focus on the well-being of children and their families,” Minister Larue said.

“It will no doubt further improve our national indicators of the Millennium Development Goals number 4,” she added.

She said the universal hearing screening is regarded among the most ultimate public health  interventions that will guarantee the protection of children’s hearing from birth onwards.

Using this new technology babies born with congenital hearing impairment will be able to access appropriate and timely early intervention services.

“The journey of a child diagnosed with hearing impairment at birth can turn out to be a success story,” said Minister Larue.

Minister Larue noted that the Ministry of Health has not been alone in the endeavour to provide such quality and modern health programmes as they require substantial monetary investments.

She extended her appreciation and gratitude to loyal sponsors -- the World Health Organisation (WHO)and the Seychelles Civil Aviation Authority (SCAA) -- for providing the OAE screening machines and the ECCE for supporting the training programme.

Minister Larue also extended special thanks to the government and everyone who has supported the health ministry all along.

The test uses a probe which is inserted into the baby's ear to identify those with hearing impairments. The probe emits clicks and listens for tiny echoes that a healthy ear should send back.

The test will next year be extended to cover the three-year-olds and will be integrated in the routine school health programme.
 
Also during the launch ceremony Anne-Marie Bibi, child health programme manager, gave an overview of how hearing tests using the distraction test  are being carried out presently, how the new test differs from the present one and why it is important to detect hearing problems early.

George Savy, the only audiologist working at the Audiology Unit at the North East Point Hospital, gave an overview of the present situation in relation to hearing and speech problems and explained why it is important to detect hearing loss early and start timely intervention.

He also gave a detailed explanation as to how the test using the OAE is carried out.

A baby and a child having their hearing tested as demonstration during the ceremony

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