Challenges and solutions in implementing hearing screening program in India

Abstract

Hearing is the key to learning spoken language, performing academically, and engaging socially for children. Degree of hearing loss quantifies the hearing ability from mild to profound, based on the audiometric findings for an individual across certain frequencies or pitches. Early identification and appropriate intervention is the prime need. A probable strategy is to ensure that every newborn is screened for possible hearing loss at the birth in the hospital. In India, hearing screening facility is mostly available to newborns brought into tertiary hospitals. Some of the key issues in the implementation of the program identified are lack of human resources, inadequate infrastructure, equipment-related shortcomings, and low priority for hearing impairment (HI) prevention. The Government of India initiated efforts toward prevention and control of HI, i.e., National Program for Prevention and Control of deafness and Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram which are significant milestones in the implementation of systematic nationwide hearing screening programs.

Perspectives of newborn hearing screening in resource constrained settings

“…This program has been a significant step towards newborn screening. However, the implementation of the hearing screening program is not uniform across the country ( Galhotra and Sahu, 2019 ). A centralized screening program has been established in the Southern states of Tamil Nadu and Kerala and two such programs have also been reported from the western region.…”

“…Besides these, the distance of centers offering testing facilities is a hindrance for the mother, particularly in the rural areas ( Merugumala et al., 2017 ). Other major challenges towards successful implementation of the newborn hearing screening program include lack of trained staff and equipment along with a lack of awareness among the health care providers ( World Health Organisation, 2010 ; Galhotra and Sahu, 2019 ; Theunissen and Swanepoel, 2008 ).…”