Screening helping thousands of newborns:

More than 62,000 babies were screened for hearing loss by Queensland’s Healthy Hearing program in 2012-13, according to the Department of Health’s annual report

Health Minister Lawrence Springborg said more than 99% of newborns were screened last year to detect the one in every 1,000 children born with a permanent bilateral hearing loss of moderate degree or greater.

“Testing newborn babies means that if they have hearing problems we know about it early, and if they require further treatment we can do it quickly,” Mr Springborg said

“It also means we can allay parental concerns very quickly too.”

Teleaudiology also played a role in supporting children with hearing loss and their parents during the year.

Queensland Health tested infants and toddlers from the Mackay, Nambour and Hervey Bay regions using a combination of videoconferencing and remote control testing audiology equipment to diagnose hearing problems

Around 150 children with a newly diagnosed hearing loss were referred to the clinics for medical investigations, developmental assessments, amplification options, counselling and early intervention counselling in one location.

Mr Springborg said the new OChild Early Hearing Detection Management and Information System implemented as part of Healthy Hearing Program was resulting in better care for Queensland babies.

“QChild is a data collection and clinical information system, which is accessed by frontline staff to ensure that children with hearing loss, or at risk of hearing loss, receive timely intervention and care,” he said.

“It contains all data relating to births in Queensland and matches newborn hearing screening results to birth data to ensure a capture rate of more than 99%.

“Diagnostic audiology results, family support, medical assessment and early intervention information is also collected and children diagnosed with a hearing loss, or at risk of developing a hearing loss, can be tracked using the system.”