Statewide Infant Screening - Hearing (SWISH) Program
The NSW Statewide Infant Screening - Hearing (SWISH) Program
is aimed at identifying all babies born in NSW with significant
permanent bilateral hearing loss by 3 months of age, and
for those children to be able to access appropriate intervention
by 6 months of age. Identification is achieved through universal
hearing screening of all newborns.
Technology is available to diagnose hearing problems in
the neonatal period. Early identification and intervention
are important, with research suggesting that intervention
commencing by 6 months of age may result in optimal speech
and language development and minimise the need for ongoing
special education.
Each Area Health Service has a SWISH
Coordinator responsible for implementing and managing the
screening program across all facilities in their Area. This
model allows SWISH Coordinators flexibility to meet unique
needs in their Area Health Service. SWISH Coordinators have
adopted innovative approaches to ensure maximum screening
capture such as service agreements with private hospitals
and employing dedicated screeners to meet local needs (eg.
Indigenous and CALD populations).
The screening section of the program involves the screening
of all newborns in NSW using Automated Auditory Brainstem
Response (AABR) technology. If newborns do not pass hearing
screening they are referred for diagnostic audiological assessment.
Parent/carer brochures describing the SWISH program are available
in English and 16 other community languages, in both paper
form and via the NSW Health website.
SWISH diagnostic audiology services are provided through
the three tertiary paediatric hospitals which are the acute
care hubs of the three paediatric services networks which
cover the state. Newborns receive an audiological diagnosis,
as well as medical assessments to assist with selecting appropriate
intervention. The SWISH Travel Assistance Scheme was established
to reimburse parents for the cost of travel where they live
a considerable distance from a tertiary paediatric hospital.
Following diagnosis, newborns are referred to intervention
services appropriate to the degree of hearing loss, specific
medical diagnosis and parental preference, eg. hearing aids,
cochlear implant.
|
