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Baby Jake in sound hands
with hearing team
SOUTHPORT and Ormskirk NHS Hospital
Trust's Newborn hearing screening team has been based at Ormskirk Hospital since
2005.
Around 80% of newborns are screened prior to leaving Hospital, and the remaining
within 4 to 5 weeks of birth. 2 day old Jake Owen became the 24,000th baby to be
screened.
Mark Billing, manager of the team of 7, said:- "We offer this service
every day of the year, even on Christmas Day and Boxing Day. We screen more than
2500 babies each year to identify those at risk of hearing loss. Jake is
our 24,000th baby and we are happy to report that he has passed his hearing
screen."
A hand held device is used for screening and a small soft tip is placed in the
baby's ear canal. The device detects echoes in the ear. The essential procedure
only takes a few minutes.
The NHS newborn hearing screening programme (NHSP) aims to identify moderate,
severe and profound deafness and hearing impairment in newborn babies.
It offers all parents in England the opportunity to have their baby's hearing
tested shortly after birth.
Early identification of hearing impairment gives children a better chance of
developing speech and language skills, and of making the most of social and
emotional interaction from an early age.
Approximately, 1 or 2 babies out of 1000 may be found to have a permanent,
childhood hearing impairment.
Mark added:- "We are here to detect if there is a problem with hearing and
identify it as soon as possible. That means the baby and family can be directed
to support services. A baby as young as 1 month old could have hearing aids
fitted which will greatly improve the hearing. Problems would arise if the
baby's hearing wasn't assessed and left for a period of months."
Louise Near, Lynda Shields, Sam Baker and Sarah Carr work as hearing screeners.
Louise said:- "We enjoy this job and families of newborns are very happy
to see us visit. They like to know if something as important as hearing is
getting screened in those early 1st hours of life."
Lynda Shields said:- "It is a lovely job. We get all the smiles from
families as they have just welcomed a new baby into the world."
Sam Baker added:- "Although problems are very rare, it is good to detect
when a baby's hearing isn't quite right. Because there is the time to assess the
problem and we can direct the family to the most appropriate support services."
Adult audiology tests take place at Southport Hospital. In total audiology has
23 members of staff with more than 200 years of experience between them.
Last year they performed 6000 hearing tests, 3500 hearing screens, fitted 5500
hearing aids and attended to 35,000 patients via an open access drop in clinic
at Southport Hospital. |
