Regina Doherty (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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To ask the Minister for Health the criteria for a child to qualify for a bone-anchored hearing aid procedure and the number of children with Downs' syndrome that have benefited from it for the years 2009, 2010, 2011; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54068/12]

Alex White (Dublin South, Labour)
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The decision on whether a bone anchored device is part of the appropriate management for a child's hearing impairment is a clinical decision involving audiological, ENT, nursing and other input from a multidisciplinary team in the context of parental informed choice. Cases suitable for bone anchored devices would be children with congenital or acquired hearing loss where surgery or conventional hearing aids are contra-indicated, inappropriate or refused.

Three sites have provided Bone Anchored Hearing Devices (BAHAs) over the past three years. The main site is Our Lady's Hospital for Sick Children. The other two sites are the Children's University Hospital, Temple Street and the Midland Regional Hospital, Tullamore. Figures provided by the HSE are as follows:

Cork University Hospital

2011: BAHA procedures: 1

(None done on children with Downs Syndrome)

Our Lady's Hospital for Sick Children

2010: BAHA procedures: 4

(No information on children with Downs Syndrome)

Midland Regional Hospital, Tullamore

2009: BAHA procedures: 1

2010: BAHA procedures: 2

2011: BAHA procedures: 0

(No information on children with Downs Syndrome)

I have asked the HSE to confirm whether it has any further information on children with Downs Syndrome for the years in question.