Experts Call for Earlier Detection of Childhood Hearing Loss
New research for Hearing Awareness Week 2019 reveals Australian parents aren't prioritizing critical hearing tests for children — with one in five never having had their child's hearing tested.
Sydney, 3 March 2019 — New research launched for Hearing Awareness Week reveals that Australian parents aren’t prioritizing critical hearing tests in children. One in five (18%) parents have either never had their child’s hearing tested or are unsure if they have.
With one in ten children being held back at school by hearing loss, experts are calling for early detection at this important stage of development and learning — to avoid the lifelong impacts of hearing impairment.
A new grant of $4 million through the Department of Health is enabling Hearing Australia to deliver free online hearing tests through the Sound Scouts app. This is critical given that many children’s hearing loss is not picked up until they are well into their schooling.
The problem with late detection
Children’s hearing can deteriorate at any age — not just at birth. Conductive hearing loss from ear infections is particularly common in young children and can go undetected for years. Research shows that children with undetected hearing loss are more likely to be labelled as inattentive or disruptive in class before anyone thinks to test their hearing.
Professor Harvey Dillon, Chief Scientist at the National Acoustic Laboratories (NAL), said:
“Children need to hear to learn, but all too often undetected hearing problems cause children to fall behind during primary school until someone thinks to have the child’s hearing checked. By the time this happens, the child may not only be behind academically but may have come to deeply believe that he or she will never be able to keep up with the other children at school.”
About Sound Scouts
Sound Scouts is a clinically validated hearing check designed for children as a fun, interactive game. The app is the result of five years of R&D with the National Acoustic Laboratories and Hearing Australia, and screens for three types of hearing difficulty simultaneously. Results are available immediately and include a pass, borderline, or refer outcome.
The app is available free to download on iOS, Android, and Windows. Individual sessions are available for purchase; school and clinical programmes are coordinated through SSIMPL.