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The Healthy Hearing Program compromises of Newborn Hearing Screening Program and a DiagnosticAudiology Program.
The Healthy Hearing Program provides hearing screens to all newborn babies born at The Townsville Hospital. Ideally all babies will have their hearing screen prior to discharge from hospital. The screening method is an Automated Auditory Brainstem Response (AABR) which takes an electro physical measure of the auditory systems response to sound. Screening is non-invasive and consists of soft clicks being
presented via earphones. Sensor pads placed on the forehead, neck and shoulder record the response as the sound travels from the ear to the auditory nervous system to the brain. The hearing screen gives a PASS or Refer result.
A PASS indicates that at the time of the screen the baby could hear at levels required for normal speech and language development. As hearing can change ongoing monitoring is recommended using the Speech and Hearing Checklist.
A REFER indicates the need for further assessment to determine if a hearing impairment is present.A baby who REFERS initially will have another screen attended. If a second REFER result is obtained they are referred to Audiology for comprehensive diagnostic assessment.
Target surveillance will be required for babies who are identified as presenting with a risk factor for the development of late onset or progressive hearing loss. These babies are referred to Audiology at the time of screening for a diagnostic assessment at 9 to 12 months of age.
All health care practitioners can support the Healthy Hearing Program by:
| Newborn Screening | Paediatric Audiology | |
| Contact | Katrina Roberts | Sree Aithal |
| Location |
The Townsville Hospital, 100 Angus Smith Drive, Douglas QLD 4814 |
ENT, Second Floor, The Townsville Hospital, 100 Angus Smith Drive, Douglas QLD 4814 |
| Phone | +61 7 4796 2995 | +61 7 4796 2763 |
| Facsimile | +61 7 4796 2981 | +61 7 4796 2751 |
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