TY - JOUR
T1 - Delays in Infant Hearing Detection and Intervention During the COVID-19 Pandemic
T2 - Commentary
AU - Jenks, Carolyn M.
AU - DeSell, Melinda
AU - Walsh, Jonathan
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© American Academy of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery Foundation 2021.
PY - 2022/4
Y1 - 2022/4
N2 - Early detection and intervention for congenital hearing loss are critical for speech and language development. Newborns should receive hearing screening, diagnosis, and intervention by 1, 3, and 6 months, respectively. The COVID-19 pandemic has caused delays in each step of this process. Increased out-of-hospital births and shortages of essential health care services likely reduced the proportion of newborns completing screening. Additional factors have contributed to delayed diagnosis. We estimate that up to 50% of infants born with hearing loss in Maryland in 2021 may be delayed in diagnosis. Hearing loss interventions have been affected due to delayed initiation, reduced availability, and lack of in-person services. Delayed diagnosis and treatment of congenital hearing loss are likely to have significant effects on individual patients and public health, the full magnitude of which will not be known for years. Opportunities exist for providers to mitigate the negative effects of COVID-19 on pediatric hearing health care.
AB - Early detection and intervention for congenital hearing loss are critical for speech and language development. Newborns should receive hearing screening, diagnosis, and intervention by 1, 3, and 6 months, respectively. The COVID-19 pandemic has caused delays in each step of this process. Increased out-of-hospital births and shortages of essential health care services likely reduced the proportion of newborns completing screening. Additional factors have contributed to delayed diagnosis. We estimate that up to 50% of infants born with hearing loss in Maryland in 2021 may be delayed in diagnosis. Hearing loss interventions have been affected due to delayed initiation, reduced availability, and lack of in-person services. Delayed diagnosis and treatment of congenital hearing loss are likely to have significant effects on individual patients and public health, the full magnitude of which will not be known for years. Opportunities exist for providers to mitigate the negative effects of COVID-19 on pediatric hearing health care.
KW - COVID-19
KW - early hearing detection and intervention
KW - newborn hearing screening
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85121722580&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=85121722580&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1177/01945998211067728
DO - 10.1177/01945998211067728
M3 - Comment/debate
C2 - 34933634
AN - SCOPUS:85121722580
SN - 0194-5998
VL - 166
SP - 603
EP - 604
JO - Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery (United States)
JF - Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery (United States)
IS - 4
ER -