Healthcare professionals and parents should understand the importance of early identification and intervention (JCIH, 1994). Hearing loss affects children’s speech, language, academic, and social/emotional development if not identified early. The first three years in children’s lives are crucial for speech and language development. Thus, the ultimate goal of universal newborn hearing screening (UNHS) is to detect hearing loss early in order to treat hearing loss sooner, preventing a delay in children’s overall development (NIH, 1993). Language development is positively and significantly affected by the age of identification. Previously, early identification was predominantly defined as “prior to 18 months” or “prior to 30 months” of age, and no studies of developmental outcomes of infants identified in the newborn period had been published.
Studies have shown evidence of identifying hearing loss early results in long-term effects of late identification of hearing loss. For example, reading levels have been negatively affected when studies measured language quotients of children who were …show more content…
From Mehl and Thomson’s observations, 260 per 100,000 babies were diagnosed with hearing loss. The occurrence of congenital hearing loss was greater than other health conditions that are commonly screened newborn disorders. Among other health conditions such as Hypothyroidism and Phenylketonuria, hearing loss was the least expensive to diagnose. Although the cost of UNHS is expensive, screening all children within the first three months will allow for earlier amplification and intervention (Yoshinaga-Itano et al., 1998; Mehl &Thomson, 1998). Financial savings in avoiding delays in children’s language are more beneficial when compared to the costs of UNHS (Mehl & Thomson,
Studies have shown evidence of identifying hearing loss early results in long-term effects of late identification of hearing loss. For example, reading levels have been negatively affected when studies measured language quotients of children who were …show more content…
From Mehl and Thomson’s observations, 260 per 100,000 babies were diagnosed with hearing loss. The occurrence of congenital hearing loss was greater than other health conditions that are commonly screened newborn disorders. Among other health conditions such as Hypothyroidism and Phenylketonuria, hearing loss was the least expensive to diagnose. Although the cost of UNHS is expensive, screening all children within the first three months will allow for earlier amplification and intervention (Yoshinaga-Itano et al., 1998; Mehl &Thomson, 1998). Financial savings in avoiding delays in children’s language are more beneficial when compared to the costs of UNHS (Mehl & Thomson,