Challenges of Screening and Early Detection of Hearing Impairment among Children in some selected hospitals in Kumasi Metropolis
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Date
2017-12-30
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Scholars Middle East Publishers
Abstract
Hearing plays a key role in learning to talk. Early screening of
newborns for hearing impairment is essential as treatment is most successful when
identified early. The study assessed the challenges associated with screening and
early detection of hearing impairment among children in the Kumasi metropolis
and focused on the services available for screening of hearing impairment among
children and the effects of the challenges of screening and early detection of
hearing impairment. The study employed a qualitative approach. Purposive and
convenience sampling were used to select 15 participants. An interview guide was
adopted to capture the responses of participants on voice recorder. Thematic
content analysis was used to analyse themes generated from the data according to
the objectives. The study found that, hearing screening services for children
included OAEs, pure tone testing, behavioral assessment and school outreach
programs but health personnel are faced with challenges in undertaking these
services. Challenges such as lack of enough funds, insufficient tools and
equipment, few numbers of health personnel and low patronage of hearing
screening services limited health personnel‟s ability to provide effective hearing
screening services to children. The study therefore recommends that the ministry
of health constructs audiology units in every region in Ghana and supply the units
with the tools and equipment needed for work. The study further recommends that,
the ministry of health in collaboration with ministry of education should assist in
training more audiologists and make school screening programs a long term
national policy.
Description
Article published in Saudi Journal of Medical and Pharmaceutical Sciences
Keywords
Hearing impairment, children, early detection, screening, Kumasi Metropolis, otoacoustic emissions (OAEs), pure tone testing, school screening
Citation
Published in Saudi Journal of Medical and Pharmaceutical Sciences