Details
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Title of host publication | Handbook of Speech-Language Therapy in Sub-Saharan Africa |
| Subtitle of host publication | Integrating Research and Practice |
| Pages | 343–365 |
| Number of pages | 23 |
| ISBN (electronic) | 978-3-031-04504-2 |
| Publication status | Published - 4 Feb 2023 |
Abstract
Background: In Minority World countries, up to 5 in every 1000 newborns are congenitally affected by hearing impairment. Due to the physiologically irretrievable loss of maturation in untreated hearing impairment in early childhood, language development fails to take place, and serious consequences occur. Thus, the participative and educational opportunities of the affected child are minimized. An interdisciplinary approach, including special needs education, otorhinolaryngology, speech–language therapy (SLT), and information technology (IT), is necessary to face the challenges of delayed social, cognitive, and emotional development by implementing diagnosis and treatment of infant sensorineural hearing loss in Tanzania. This interdisciplinary project aims to implement an early diagnostic approach in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) to detect and treat infant hearing impairment. Methodology: A multi-centered cross-method project to improve educational and participation opportunities of children with severe sensorineural hearing loss is described. As a first step, universal newborn hearing screening (UNHS) was implemented and monitored in a clinical context in Tanzania. Telemedical applications will be adopted with the provision of hearing aids and cochlear implants (CI). Additional training of speech–language therapists (SLTs), audiologists, and other field-related professionals in hearing impairment will take place in a digital, transnational way. Results: UNHS was successfully implemented at Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences (MUHAS), Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, which provided the first audiological and UNHS training of trainers and screeners. The obtained data were evaluated concerning prevalence, risk factors, and comorbidities of newborn hearing impairment. As the next step, more screenings will be conducted and informational material will be developed. The focus will be on materials for the support and education of hearing-impaired young children because they can benefit most from early diagnosis as well as further treatment, for example, technical devices such as hearing aids or CI. Discussion: This multi-centered study enables the first epidemiological assessment of childhood sensorineural hearing impairment in Tanzania. Alongside pedagogical and medical-therapeutic measures, this study increases the future educational and participation chances of hearing-impaired children in Tanzania.
Keywords
- Epidemiology, Hearing impairment, Interdisciplinary approach, Sensorineural hearing loss, Universal newborn hearing screening (UNHS)
ASJC Scopus subject areas
Sustainable Development Goals
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Handbook of Speech-Language Therapy in Sub-Saharan Africa: Integrating Research and Practice. 2023. p. 343–365.
Research output: Chapter in book/report/conference proceeding › Contribution to book/anthology › Research
}
TY - CHAP
T1 - Hear Africa! Improving Language Development, Education, and Participation of Children with Severe Sensorineural Hearing Loss in Tanzania
AU - Lüdtke, Ulrike
AU - Illg, Angelika
AU - Johanningmeier, Louisa
AU - Richard, Enica
AU - Ruparellia, Reema
AU - Rumberg, Lars
AU - Ostermann, Jörn
AU - Lenarz, Thomas
AU - Lesinski-Schiedat, Anke
PY - 2023/2/4
Y1 - 2023/2/4
N2 - Background: In Minority World countries, up to 5 in every 1000 newborns are congenitally affected by hearing impairment. Due to the physiologically irretrievable loss of maturation in untreated hearing impairment in early childhood, language development fails to take place, and serious consequences occur. Thus, the participative and educational opportunities of the affected child are minimized. An interdisciplinary approach, including special needs education, otorhinolaryngology, speech–language therapy (SLT), and information technology (IT), is necessary to face the challenges of delayed social, cognitive, and emotional development by implementing diagnosis and treatment of infant sensorineural hearing loss in Tanzania. This interdisciplinary project aims to implement an early diagnostic approach in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) to detect and treat infant hearing impairment. Methodology: A multi-centered cross-method project to improve educational and participation opportunities of children with severe sensorineural hearing loss is described. As a first step, universal newborn hearing screening (UNHS) was implemented and monitored in a clinical context in Tanzania. Telemedical applications will be adopted with the provision of hearing aids and cochlear implants (CI). Additional training of speech–language therapists (SLTs), audiologists, and other field-related professionals in hearing impairment will take place in a digital, transnational way. Results: UNHS was successfully implemented at Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences (MUHAS), Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, which provided the first audiological and UNHS training of trainers and screeners. The obtained data were evaluated concerning prevalence, risk factors, and comorbidities of newborn hearing impairment. As the next step, more screenings will be conducted and informational material will be developed. The focus will be on materials for the support and education of hearing-impaired young children because they can benefit most from early diagnosis as well as further treatment, for example, technical devices such as hearing aids or CI. Discussion: This multi-centered study enables the first epidemiological assessment of childhood sensorineural hearing impairment in Tanzania. Alongside pedagogical and medical-therapeutic measures, this study increases the future educational and participation chances of hearing-impaired children in Tanzania.
AB - Background: In Minority World countries, up to 5 in every 1000 newborns are congenitally affected by hearing impairment. Due to the physiologically irretrievable loss of maturation in untreated hearing impairment in early childhood, language development fails to take place, and serious consequences occur. Thus, the participative and educational opportunities of the affected child are minimized. An interdisciplinary approach, including special needs education, otorhinolaryngology, speech–language therapy (SLT), and information technology (IT), is necessary to face the challenges of delayed social, cognitive, and emotional development by implementing diagnosis and treatment of infant sensorineural hearing loss in Tanzania. This interdisciplinary project aims to implement an early diagnostic approach in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) to detect and treat infant hearing impairment. Methodology: A multi-centered cross-method project to improve educational and participation opportunities of children with severe sensorineural hearing loss is described. As a first step, universal newborn hearing screening (UNHS) was implemented and monitored in a clinical context in Tanzania. Telemedical applications will be adopted with the provision of hearing aids and cochlear implants (CI). Additional training of speech–language therapists (SLTs), audiologists, and other field-related professionals in hearing impairment will take place in a digital, transnational way. Results: UNHS was successfully implemented at Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences (MUHAS), Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, which provided the first audiological and UNHS training of trainers and screeners. The obtained data were evaluated concerning prevalence, risk factors, and comorbidities of newborn hearing impairment. As the next step, more screenings will be conducted and informational material will be developed. The focus will be on materials for the support and education of hearing-impaired young children because they can benefit most from early diagnosis as well as further treatment, for example, technical devices such as hearing aids or CI. Discussion: This multi-centered study enables the first epidemiological assessment of childhood sensorineural hearing impairment in Tanzania. Alongside pedagogical and medical-therapeutic measures, this study increases the future educational and participation chances of hearing-impaired children in Tanzania.
KW - Epidemiology
KW - Hearing impairment
KW - Interdisciplinary approach
KW - Sensorineural hearing loss
KW - Universal newborn hearing screening (UNHS)
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85161817768&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1007/978-3-031-04504-2_16
DO - 10.1007/978-3-031-04504-2_16
M3 - Contribution to book/anthology
SN - 978-3-031-04503-5
SN - 978-3-031-04506-6
SP - 343
EP - 365
BT - Handbook of Speech-Language Therapy in Sub-Saharan Africa
ER -