Newborn hearing screening is an effective strategy for early identification of hearing loss in the newborn which result in early intervention and best outcome.However implementing universal screening strategy is a cha...Newborn hearing screening is an effective strategy for early identification of hearing loss in the newborn which result in early intervention and best outcome.However implementing universal screening strategy is a challenge in many resource constrained settings.There are various limitations towards successful implementation of hearing screening program in the developing countries.The cost effectiveness of the screening program also needs to be considered in a resource constrained settings.We attempt to provide a viewpoint that can be potentially helpful for the successful implementation of hearing screening in a resource constrained settings of the developing countries.展开更多
Background: Cochlear implantation is the best management option for children with profound hearing loss and has received no benefit from hearing aids. Early implantation for these children is associated with good spee...Background: Cochlear implantation is the best management option for children with profound hearing loss and has received no benefit from hearing aids. Early implantation for these children is associated with good speech and language outcomes. Objectives: To determine the barriers to early pediatric cochlear implantation. Methodology: A qualitative cross-sectional study was conducted at Hearing Implants Centre in Nairobi Kenya from August 2022 to February 2023. The target population was 40 children who had undergone cochlear implantation under the auspices of Cochlear Implant Group of Kenya but data was only collected from 30 of them. The remaining were ruled out because 3 were unreachable over the phone, 5 refused to participate and 2 did not meet the inclusion criteria. Results: Patient file reviews and parental telephone interviews were conducted to collect information and analyzed using Microsoft excel and presented using graphs, tables and pie charts. The analysis of the gender showed 46.67% were male and 53.33% were female. Analysis on newborn screening showed that none had it done. The mode age of hearing loss suspicion was between the ages of 2 - 3 years. The hearing loss suspicion done was done by the mothers at 20 children the reminder being 3 by the father, 1 by a family friend, 4 by the school-teacher and 2 by the child’s grandmother. A total of 17 participants noted a delayed in speech and language, 9 noted that the child did not respond to loud sounds, 4 noted that the children did not turn when called. Once hearing loss was identified, 73% saw the ENT, 17% saw a pediatrician, 7% went to see an Audiologist, and 3% saw a speech therapist. The mode age at diagnosis was 1.5 years. The mode age at implantation was 5 years. The mode time from diagnosis was 2 years. Conclusions: This study sought to investigate the barriers to pediatric cochlear implantation in Kenya. From the results it was determined that factors such as lack of newborn screening, high cost of cochlear implantation, lack of awareness have led to late cochlear implantation.展开更多
文摘Newborn hearing screening is an effective strategy for early identification of hearing loss in the newborn which result in early intervention and best outcome.However implementing universal screening strategy is a challenge in many resource constrained settings.There are various limitations towards successful implementation of hearing screening program in the developing countries.The cost effectiveness of the screening program also needs to be considered in a resource constrained settings.We attempt to provide a viewpoint that can be potentially helpful for the successful implementation of hearing screening in a resource constrained settings of the developing countries.
文摘Background: Cochlear implantation is the best management option for children with profound hearing loss and has received no benefit from hearing aids. Early implantation for these children is associated with good speech and language outcomes. Objectives: To determine the barriers to early pediatric cochlear implantation. Methodology: A qualitative cross-sectional study was conducted at Hearing Implants Centre in Nairobi Kenya from August 2022 to February 2023. The target population was 40 children who had undergone cochlear implantation under the auspices of Cochlear Implant Group of Kenya but data was only collected from 30 of them. The remaining were ruled out because 3 were unreachable over the phone, 5 refused to participate and 2 did not meet the inclusion criteria. Results: Patient file reviews and parental telephone interviews were conducted to collect information and analyzed using Microsoft excel and presented using graphs, tables and pie charts. The analysis of the gender showed 46.67% were male and 53.33% were female. Analysis on newborn screening showed that none had it done. The mode age of hearing loss suspicion was between the ages of 2 - 3 years. The hearing loss suspicion done was done by the mothers at 20 children the reminder being 3 by the father, 1 by a family friend, 4 by the school-teacher and 2 by the child’s grandmother. A total of 17 participants noted a delayed in speech and language, 9 noted that the child did not respond to loud sounds, 4 noted that the children did not turn when called. Once hearing loss was identified, 73% saw the ENT, 17% saw a pediatrician, 7% went to see an Audiologist, and 3% saw a speech therapist. The mode age at diagnosis was 1.5 years. The mode age at implantation was 5 years. The mode time from diagnosis was 2 years. Conclusions: This study sought to investigate the barriers to pediatric cochlear implantation in Kenya. From the results it was determined that factors such as lack of newborn screening, high cost of cochlear implantation, lack of awareness have led to late cochlear implantation.
