What We Do

Hearing loss DVD launched

Tuesday, 09 August 2011 09:41

The new ‘Sound Beginnings’ DVD, a resource to assist families whose children are diagnosed with a permanent hearing loss, was launched at the Royal Children’s Hospital this week.

The DVD has been produced by the RCH Audiology Department in conjunction with staff from the Statewide Healthy Hearing Program, with funding from the Royal Children’s Hospital Foundation and the Harcourts Foundation.

Since 2004, the Healthy Hearing Program has provided free hearing screening for newborn babies in Queensland, in order to detect hearing loss early and offer early intervention.

Children with hearing loss may have difficulties with language development, which in turn can lead to difficulties at school and later in life. By diagnosing and responding to hearing loss before the age of six months, clinicians may be able to help children develop their speech and language skills, and hopefully minimise the need for ongoing special education in later years.

Although an early diagnosis can lead to better outcomes for children with hearing loss, at the time of diagnosis the situation can be very challenging for parents as they come to terms with their child’s condition. The Sound Beginnings DVD aims to make life a little easier for these families by providing useful information, explanations of procedures, the roles of the various clinicians who will see their child, and the stories and experiences of other families whose children have been diagnosed with hearing loss.

Narrated by ABC Television’s Jenny Woodward, the DVD is a professional and comprehensive resource that has the potential to assist families across Queensland.

Congratulations to the expert staff of the Audiology unit and the Healthy Hearing Program for completing this exciting project, and thanks to our friends at the Harcourts Foundation for helping to work wonders for sick kids.

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