NHS reports two-millionth baby hearing screening

The Department of Health has reported that the NHS has now screened two million babies as part of its Newborn Hearing Screening Programme.

The initiative involves the screening of 1,700 infants every day and is regarded by the department to be one of the most significant achievements in screening for deaf children and children’s audiology in the last four decades.

As a result of the programme, over 3,400 babies have been diagnosed with moderate, severe or profound hearing loss, while this early diagnosis is believed to be key for the development of a baby.

The test has replaced the Infant Distraction Test, with the government reporting that over 99 per cent of parents offered the new screening accepting this invitation.

Ivan Lewis, health minister, said: “I am delighted that the Newborn Hearing Screening Programme has reached the significant milestone of two million babies screened.”

He noted that the scheme has made a “huge impact”, with diagnosis of hearing loss occurring up to two years earlier than before the introduction of the test.

In July 2007, the Royal National Institute for the Deaf warned of a “hearing loss timebomb” in the UK, with its survey reporting that 70 per cent of clubbers and 68 per cent of gig-goers suffering from tinnitus and other hearing-related problems.