Awareness of Hearing Loss in Newborns and Newborn Hearing Screening Facilities with its Importance among Parturient

Sarah Zahir,
Greeshma Ravindran,*
Aju Abraham,
Pooja Pushpa Sasidharan

Abstract

Background: Parental awareness about hearing loss in newborns and newborn hearing screening programs are important for the early identification and intervention in children with hearing loss. Limited studies have explored the awareness of parturient mothers towards newborn hearing loss, newborn hearing screening, the facilities for early hearing screening programs available at hospitals in Indian scenario and its importance. Materials and Methods: The current study investigated the awareness of parturient about newborn hearing loss, newborn hearing screening facilities and its importance through a self- administered questionnaire survey. A total of 317 parturient across different clinics and hospitals in the city of Mangalore, state of Karnataka participated in the survey. Results: Majority of the parturient mothers (71.29%) were aware of the probability of hearing loss among newborns and only nearly half the participants had knowledge about the risk factors causing hearing loss in newborns. Only 42.58% have heard about newborn hearing screening before and 57.42% of the participants were unaware of the newborn hearing screening programs available in hospitals and the need for it. Conclusion: Despite of the education or socio-economic status, there exists a lack of knowledge among parturient mothers about hearing loss newborns and newborn hearing screening .The responses raise a concern that the general public particularly the new mothers or expecting mothers should be educated regarding the neonatal hearing loss, risk factors of hearing loss, hearing screening programs available in hospitals and its importance which is crucial for the successful implementation of early hearing assessment and intervention.