Maureen O'Sullivan (Dublin Central, Independent)
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576. To ask the Minister for Health the system that is in place for testing newborns for deafness and for children acquiring hearing loss within the first 12 months; the policy implemented by Health Service Executive and supporting agencies for support for these children and their parents in the early years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44700/13]

Maureen O'Sullivan (Dublin Central, Independent)
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579. To ask the Minister for Health the position regarding his target to ensure that there is a universal hearing test for all newborns at all maternity hospitals by 2014; the specific elements of the Health Service Executive care pathways for a newborn, from the initial hearing test to the process of fitting a hearing aid for a baby; if he will identify where there are current gaps in the delivery of this service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44703/13]

Alex White (Dublin South, Labour)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 576 and 579 together.

The HSE has completely rolled out its Universal Newborn Hearing Screening Programme (UNHS) in three regions to date - HSE Dublin Mid Leinster, HSE Dublin North East and HSE South. This will be fully extended to HSE West by the end of the year. The objectives of this programme are:

- To offer a hearing screen to newborn babies using an agreed national protocol;

- To screen babies using the agreed national protocol for screening within 4 weeks of birth, and by 44 weeks gestational age for babies who have been in a Special Care Baby Unit or Neonatal Intensive Care Unit for more than 48 hours;

- To ensure timely referral and assessment to integrated audiology services of babies identified as requiring assessment;

- To ensure that all babies with permanent childhood hearing impairment receive effective and acceptable intervention, care and support that meets their individual needs, including appropriate referral to other services such as ENT and allied health professionals and other statutory bodies/agencies such as Department of Education and Skills.

Additionally, if a baby passes the screening but if the parents have concerns at a later stage, they can highlight these concerns to their Public Health Nurse or Area Medical Officer and be referred into Audiology Services for re-assessment.

The HSE chairs a Collaborative Working Group which has representation from DeafHear, HSE Audiology Services, HSE Speech and Language Therapy Services, Visiting Teachers for the Deaf and the Beaumont Cochlear Implant Programme. This group works closely to ensure that services provided to children diagnosed with a hearing impairment are offered in a seamless fashion. Once an audiologist diagnoses a child with a hearing impairment, they refer on to the appropriate professionals.

UNHS has proven high sensitivity and specificity. With this sensitive procedure for hearing screening, a child with a permanent hearing impairment (PCHI) can now be identified much earlier, within 4 to 5 weeks of birth, and the hearing status of each ear determined accurately. This means a child can start receiving appropriate support within the first six months of life. The core objectives of UNHS are described as "1-3-6" goals which are based on international programmes:

- Babies to be screened by 1 month of age;

- Audiology assessment completed by 3 months of age;

- Initiation of appropriate medical and audiological services, and early intervention services, by 6 months of age.

Maureen O'Sullivan (Dublin Central, Independent)
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577. To ask the Minister for Health the position regarding community waiting lists for basic hearing tests of children up to 24 months and access to supporting routine hearing services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44701/13]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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In order to reduce the current audiology waiting lists a number of measures are being taken by the HSE. The Audiology Clinical Care Programme has recently developed a waiting list and validation procedure to be implemented regionally. The first data set is due in by the end of this month. Ten recently graduated HSE funded MSc Audiologists are also due to join the workforce this month. This increase in staffing, along with the new National/Assistant National Lead posts, will increase audiology staff by over 30% in community services and substantially increase activity, thereby reducing waiting times.

Additionally, each HSE region is engaging in waiting list initiatives. A programme of streamlining current working practices, care pathways and introducing new technologies will further lead to reduced waiting times for patients. A programme is being piloted whereby Area Medical Officers and Public Health Nurses, who would have carried out the Infant Distraction Hearing Test prior to the introduction of universal newborn hearing screening, will carry out screening on children who have a fluctuating hearing loss due to ear infections. With careful monitoring, these children will now not need to be placed on audiology waiting lists.