07 January 2006

Screening success catches deafness in babies early

NSW Minister for Health John Hatzistergos today released a progress report on the first year of improvements in hearing services flowing from the Ministerial Standing Committee on Hearing.

"One of the most tangible improvements we have seen is the benefits flowing from the State-wide Infant Screening - Hearing (SWISH) program that started in December 2002."

Mr Hatzistergos said the SWISH Program aims to identify all babies born in NSW with significant permanent bilateral (both ears) hearing loss by three months of age, and for those babies to be able to access appropriate intervention, by six months of age.

In the two years to June 2005, SWISH screening rates have averaged over 95% of all newborn children.

• The average age of diagnosis of hearing loss in NSW since the program started has fallen from 18 months to 1.6 months, and the average age of first hearing aid fitting has fallen from 22 months (for severe hearing losses) to 3.8 months for all losses.
• Up to June 2005, 208,000 babies had been screened, with 179 identified as having significant bilateral hearing loss.
• The identification rate of significant permanent bilateral hearing loss by the SWISH Program is 0.9 per 1,000 births, which has remained steady since the program started.
• The number of newborns identified by screening as requiring diagnostic audiology up to June 2005 is 386 and the diagnostic audiology follow-up rate is 97%.

Mr Hatzistergos said that early identification and intervention were important.

"Research suggests that intervention starting by six months of age may result in optimal speech and language development and reduce the need for ongoing special education," Mr Hatzistergos said.

Mr Hatzistergos said the Ministerial Standing Committee is the peak advisory group which sets the strategic directions for hearing services.

"I am very pleased with the progress made by the Ministerial Standing Committee on Hearing which is working closely with key interest groups to clearly establish priorities and appropriate consumer access for hearing services, including those for people in rural communities," Mr Hatzistergos said.

For a range of health information, go online to www.health.nsw.gov.au