Wales Ignores Test To Detect Deafness In Babies

Welsh deaf children will be denied the best start in life unless a screen to detect deafness in new born babies - being introduced in England from next year - is implemented in Wales. The screen, which costs as little as 16313 per head, will soon be available in 20 English hospitals, but there are no plans to do the same in Wales.

Around 34,500 babies are born each year in Wales, of whom 30 to 40 will have a significant hearing loss¹. All babies are currently screened at 7-8 months using the health visitor distraction test², but of the 840 children born deaf each year in the UK, the distraction test will miss 400 by 1189 years and 200 by 3189 years³. This has serious implications for a deaf child's language and educational development as children learn to communicate from their earliest days.

A MORI poll⁴ commissioned by RNID, found that a staggering 95% of people in Wales support the introduction of screening of babies for deafness at birth.

RNID is calling upon the Welsh Assembly to take the UK lead on Universal Neonatal Hearing Screening (UNHS) and introduce it throughout Wales as soon as possible. Assembly Members will have the opportunity to learn about UNHS and its benefits at an RNID reception being held on 9 November at Crickhowell House. The reception is to be hosted by Jenny Randerson. Liberal Democrat AM for Cardiff Central, who herself has a hearing loss.

Jim Edwards, Director, RNID Cymru said:

"We cannot deny this screen to deaf children in Wales. Westminster has set the pace by introducing the screen in some hospitals in England, but there is still a golden opportunity for the Welsh Assembly to take the lead on this issue. By announcing their intention to introduce hearing screening for all new born babies, Assembly Members can help to give deaf children in Wales the best possible start in life.

Elizabeth Andrews, Senior Policy Officer, RNID said:

"The advantages of screening babies for deafness are clear. The earlier deaf children are detected the earlier professional support can be given to enable them to realise their potential. The time has come for legislators to make this technology available to all children and their families."

Technical details

• For further information contact RNID Media Relations on 020-7296 8091/8139 (out of office hours 07711-420 935/07711-420 936).
• In June 2000, as a result of extensive campaigning by RNID and other key organisations, the UK Government announced its intention to introduce Universal Neonatal Hearing screening in England starting with 20 hospitals from early 2001.
• UNHS uses the otoacoustic emissions test. A brief acoustic click is presented to the ear by means of a tiny probe. Fractions of a second later, the echo of the click can be recorded in the ear canal. These echoes are known as otoacoustic emissions, which are small sounds caused by the motion of the eardrum in response to vibrations from deep within the cochlea. The healthy cochlea creates internal vibrations, and therefore emissions, whenever it processes sound. Damaged cochleae usually do not. A baby who passes the screening test will have a healthy cochlea and functioning middle ear.
• The Royal National Institute for Deaf People (RNID) is the largest charity representing the needs of 8.7 million deaf and hard of hearing people in the UK. As a membership charity, we aim to achieve a radically better quality of life for deaf and hard of hearing people. We do this by campaigning and lobbying vigorously, by raising awareness of deafness and hearing loss, by providing services and through social, medical and technical research.

1. Greater that 40dBHL in the better ear.
2. The health visitor distraction test requires a baby to sit upright on the mother's lap, responding to sounds without seeing the source.
3. A Critical Review of the Role of Neonatal Hearing Screening in the Detection of Congenital Hearing Impairment (Davis, Bamford et al 1997)
4. The poll, conducted by MORI on behalf of RNID, took place between 5-9 and 19-23 October 2000. 2,252 adults aged 15 and over were interviewed face-to-face in their homes using computer-assisted personal interviewing (CAPI). Of these, 210 were interviewed in Wales. Data was weighted to the national profile.