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HelpingGPstohearbetter
The human body is extremely complex
and general practitioners encounter myriad
health issues every day in their practice.
One health issue that receives little
attention in their training, is hearing
health. It’s not surprising then that one
in eight doctors we surveyed rated their
knowledge of identifying a hearing loss
as less than adequate and one in four
said their understanding of how to
manage hearing loss was poor.
GPs are a vital link in the identification
and referral of hearing loss. Studies show
National newborn hearing screening conference
The second National Newborn Hearing
Screening Conference was held at the
Sydney Children’s Hospital, Randwick,
on August 2nd and 3rd, 2003.The
keynote speaker was Prof. John Bamford
from the University of Manchester (UK),
who spoke about progress with the
United Kingdom’s Universal Newborn
that most people are likely to talk to their
family doctor first about concerns about
their own or their children’s hearing.
Australian Hearing is targeting GPs in a
number of ways to increase their awareness
of hearing loss, their understanding of its
impact on health and lifestyle and where
to send their patients for help. This
includes providing free information kits
that contain tools to help doctors discuss
hearing issues with their patients.
Reaching GPs during their training is
something the manager of our Newcastle
Hearing Screening program. Participants
heard presentations from speakers from a
wide range of professions, including
audiologists, otologists, early
intervention teachers, paediatricians and
public health experts. One particularly
well-received session was a panel of
parents who discussed their experiences
centre, Maree McTaggart, has managed to
achieve. She has developed a fruitful
working relationship with the large
medical training facility at the University
of Newcastle.
Maree has also presented a half-day
seminar to over 30 GP practice nurses
focusing on ways the nurses can best
handle hearing related issues for over 75
year olds. Maree has been invited to run
another seminar in 2004.
of early diagnosis of hearing loss in
their children. Alison King, Paediatric
Policy & Program Manager for
Australian Hearing, presented a paper
about how Australian Hearing manages
hearing loss in babies, entitled
Amplification for Infants – What are
the issues?
What’s happening
in Australia?
Universal Newborn Hearing Screening began in NSW in
December 2002. The Queensland Government recently
announced it would progressively introduce newborn
screening in 2004 with the aim of having Universal Newborn
Hearing Screening in place across the State by 2005-06.
Western Australia screens about 50% of new babies at present,
and a pilot program has been undertaken in several South
Australian hospitals. Newborn hearing screening is also
available for babies admitted to neonatal intensive care units
in Victoria and Tasmania. A number of hospitals around
the country also run their own newborn hearing
screening programs.
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