Fepeda Policy on Universal Neonatal Hearing Screening
FEPEDA POLICY ON UNIVERSAL NEONATAL HEARING SCREENING
Adopted in Bergisch Gladbach on 29th July, 2000
Reviewed in Helsinki, January 2010
FEPEDA believes that the introduction of neo-natal hearing screening is essential to the improvement of the quality of life and the subsequent development of enhanced opportunities for deaf and hard-of-hearing children and their families.
There is a growing body of evidence that the early identification and management of children who have permanent hearing impairment from birth can significantly benefit the child’s social, emotional and language development. (Yoshinaga-Itano, 1998).
There is also evidence to demonstrate that outcomes for deaf and hard-of-hearing children are dependent on the way in which diagnosis is managed and follow-up support is provided. Therefore the introduction of neo-natal hearing screening needs to be implemented with considerable care and forethought. Even at best the process of early diagnosis may be a painful and difficult time for a family and therefore there is a need for family concerns and anxieties to be taken into account at all times and for considerable attention to be paid to the support and care that each individual child and family requires.
The introduction of neo-natal screening will require not only sensitive and thoughtful management of the actual screening process, the confirmation and diagnosis of deafness but also the need for high quality, co-ordinated support and ongoing care.
Professionals involved in screening and diagnosis must be fully trained in their areas, have effective listening skills, and be committed to working in partnership with parents and other agencies. They must provide accurate, up to date, balanced and comprehensive information about all aspects of hearing impairment, including communication and educational options, in a language which parents can comprehend and fully access. They must let the parents come to their own decision freely without pressure or influence.
At diagnosis, families must be informed about the existence of appropriate voluntary agencies which can provide independent support and advice and given the relevant contact details.