Though the Early Hearing Detection and Intervention (EHDI) Program screens all newborns for hearing loss before leaving the hospital, there are a significant portion of children who receive a diagnosis of “late-onset hearing loss” before they enter school. A new awareness campaign profiled in the ASHA LeaderLive aims to educate the public about the occurrence of undetected hearing loss in children who pass initial screenings, and the potential language and developmental delays that may follow.

Late Onset Awareness Week—which takes place May 4th through 10th—was launched in 2021 by Valerie James Abbott, the parent of a child whose hearing loss was discovered by her preschool teacher. In partnership with Justin Osmond, CEO of the Olive Osmond Hearing Fund, the Late Onset Awareness Week campaign kicked off with the following goals, as stated in the ASHA LeaderLive article:

  • Inform the public about the prevalence of postnatal hearing loss.
  • Highlight common signs, symptoms, and risk factors.
  • Promote tools and resources to help families monitor their child’s developmental milestones.
  • Encourage families to request audiological testing when any developmental delays are present or suspected.

To read the article in its entirety on the ASHA LeaderLive website, please click here.

Source: ASHA LeaderLive

Image: ASHA LeaderLive