Newborn hearing screening and early auditory-based treatment in Taiwan: action trends of families with children who are hearing impaired

Objective To explore the trends in actions and factors influencing families of children with hearing loss, regarding early treatment following the implementation of a newborn hearing screening (NHS) in Taiwan. Design A retrospective study was conducted by extracting data from the treatment histories of families with children who had hearing loss and who were contacted and assessed by the non-profit organisation (NPO). Children born between 2012 and 2018 were included. The time lapse between initial NHS and early treatment sought by each family was documented and the factors predicting the timing of those actions were identified. Study sample Data of 2095 families of children with hearing loss and who received treatment from an NPO for the annual birth cohort of 2012 through 2018 were included. Results The median age at treatments initiation improved through the years. Parental educational level and the child's degree of hearing loss were significant indicators of the child's initial age at treatment intervention, age when hearing aids were fitted, and days taken to contact the organisation. Conclusion The NHS in Taiwan promoted earlier treatment for children with hearing loss. Furthermore, patient instructions and education may be important to enable parents to take actions for early intervention.