National hearing screening programme rolled out in Galway

Galway University Hospitals implemented the scheme this month, however routine hearing screening has been part of the service for ten years.

The scheme is important as one to two babies in every one thousand are born with hearing loss and early diagnosis can have a significant impact on the babies future.

Newborn hearing screening has been part of the service at GUH since 2003, and in 2011 the HSE called for a national screening to be rolled out at all maternity hospitals.

The national programme has now been rolled out at UHG and will be introduced at Portiuncula Hospital and Mayo General Hospital this Summer.

The test is usually done before the baby leaves the hospital and a trained hearing screener carries out the test.

Any necessary follow up will be undertaken by the Audiology services at UHG and Galway community services.