More than two million newborns have been screened for hearing loss across NSW since the Australian-first Statewide Infant Screening Hearing Program (SWISH) began in December 2002, NSW Health has revealed.
About 180 of more than 90,000 newborns screened in the state each year are detected as having significant hearing loss.
Early diagnosis and referral to specialist treatment is vital for children’s overall development, leading to better outcomes in their speech, language and communication, NSW Health said in a statement.
Under the program, a trained screener conducts screening on a newborn baby while they are asleep or resting. This can take place in public and private birthing facilities, a community clinic or a family’s home.
The hearing screen takes no more than 20 minutes and results are available immediately. The screener can explain the results straight away to the baby’s parents and record the results.
Babies who do not pass the initial hearing screen have a repeat test completed.
Newborns who are identified as requiring comprehensive hearing assessment are referred to one of three paediatric audiology centres in NSW – The Children’s Hospital Westmead, Sydney Children’s Hospital Randwick and John Hunter Children’s Hospital Newcastle.
Minister for Health Mr Ryan Park said the Minns Labor Government was “committed to ensuring all infants have the best possible start to life, by ensuring any hearing issues are identified early so they can receive specialised treatment right away”.
“Hearing loss is an invisible disability and one which impacts a significant proportion of the community, highlighting the importance of early identification and intervention,” he said.
“Importantly, this essential test is offered to all parents of newborns in the first few days of life and provides reassurance to families as well as further support should they need it.”
Western Sydney Local Health District SWISH area coordinator, Ms Judith McCloskey said that by the time an infant said their first word, they would have been listening to the way humans talk for some time, from when they were developing in the womb to their first few months after birth.
“It’s important to know early on how well they can hear so their family can get the right advice and support,” she said.
Evidence before the roll out of the program found that children with a significant hearing loss did not develop language or educational standing on par with their hearing peers, she said.
“Thanks to the SWISH program, these children are now being identified and diagnosed early, enabling them to be on par with their hearing peers,” McCloskey said.
