Given the fact that an estimated three to four in every 1,000 babies are born with a hearing loss in both ears, conducting hearing screening while newborns are still in hospital has become increasingly advisable. Medical professionals and researchers have for a long time been highlighting the importance of early diagnosis. Many countries have recognized the need for more precise analyses, and alongside Great Britain, the Netherlands, Belgium and Austria, several American states also introduced universal hearing screening for newborn babies a number of years ago. Other countries, including Italy and France, followed suit several years ago or, like Switzerland, have launched regional pilot projects to pave the way. Germany is among the countries that have more recently changed their thinking on health policy, and now state health insurance providers cover the costs of an in-depth and improved hearing screening in three stages. And as of January 1, 2009, a re solution by the highest committee in the German health system entitles newborn babies to a more detailed hearing screening and an early detection examination for hearing problems. Both health insurance providers and doctors hope this measure will facilitate earlier and improved speech acquisition, which forms the indispensable basis for later educational opportunities. For without a detailed analysis shortly after a child’s birth, on average hearing losses are not discovered until the second to fourth year of age, which is much too late. In order to guarantee normal speech development, any auditory impairment should be treated as early as the first year of age. The general rule is, the earlier a hearing loss or deafness is identified and treated, the better it is for the child’s linguistic, social and emotional development.

The awful thing about an innate hearing loss or one that develops early on is that the child simply has no basis for comparison. It grows up in a muffled world and knows no other. As the child cannot give any feedback and the disability is invisible, it is even more the case that parents have the duty to constantly observe their children’s listening behavior and identify any unusual responses: How does the child respond when spoken to? Is it unusually loud? Is the child’s linguistic development normal for its age?

To hone parents’ awareness of this issue, in addition to the research institutions, the hearing aid industry is also increasingly making efforts to enlighten the public. Marc Menendez, Segment Manager of Pediatrics at Phonak, explains: “Children can benefit immensely from hearing devices that are fitted at the right time. Phonak has always been deeply committed to the development of dedicated technological hearing solutions for children and an open dialog with the public.” The establishment and popularization of parent portals and forums geared towards the needs of worried parents are new measures designed to provide help. Parents can use them to dispel their doubts and gather important information, as well as read through the latest scientific findings.