Manitoba continues to expand newborn hearing screening to create a universal program, with teams in development in every regional health authority. This announcement was made by Health Minister Sharon Blady.
“Every family deserves access to the screening and supports they need to give their baby the best chance for a healthy start,” said Minister Blady. “This expanded program will help ensure no child with congenital hearing loss falls through the cracks.”
The minister noted the quick diagnosis and treatment of children with hearing loss can be key in helping them develop cognitive, speech-processing and learning skills, adding the biggest gains are made if hearing loss is detected and diagnosed before a baby is three months old.
Hearing screening services are currently offered at the Brandon Regional Health Centre and in Winnipeg neonatal intensive care units for infants at high risk of hearing loss. In addition, the Thompson General Hospital provides hearing screening services to most babies born there.
“Children learn so much by being able to hear the world around them,” said Diana Dinon, pediatric audiologist, Health Sciences Centre Winnipeg. “We’re pleased the work to implement this important legislation is moving forward, so children around the province can have their hearing screened at birth and if needed, get the supports they need more quickly.”
The minister indicated as part of the universal program, hearing screening services will expand and be available to newborn children in Manitoba at sites including:
- St. Boniface General Hospital and the Birth Centre in Winnipeg;
- Portage District General Hospital, Bethesda Regional Health Centre in Steinbach and Boundary Trails Health Centre in Morden/Winkler in Southern Health-Santé Sud;
- Selkirk and District General Hospital in the Interlake-Eastern Regional Health Authority;
- Dauphin Regional Health Centre and the Neepawa Health Centre in Prairie Mountain Health; and
- St. Anthony’s General Hospital in The Pas and the Flin Flon General Hospital in the Northern Regional Health Authority.
“Each year, a small number of the 16,000 to 17,000 babies delivered in Manitoba are born with some hearing loss,” said Minister Blady. “This expanded program will make sure that these children can be diagnosed and treated as early as possible.”
Infants born at other facilities or at home will be referred to their nearest outpatient hearing centre for screening. A common database will help ensure babies are supported no matter where they are born or live in the province.
“Every family deserves access to the screening and supports they need to give their baby the best chance for a healthy start,” said Minister Blady. “This expanded program will help ensure no child with congenital hearing loss falls through the cracks when the Universal Newborn Hearing Screening Act comes into effect Sept. 1, 2016.”
The province is investing more than $3 million in new funding to develop and implement the program including funds for capital equipment, staff training and ongoing operating costs.
