When
Dr. Konrádsson took over the Department of Audiology at Bispebjerg Hospital in the summer of 2003, a
lot of preparatory work had already been done towards establishing a neonatal hearing screening program
in Copenhagen.
Running with the ball
In all modesty, Dr. Konrádsson declares that “it was very easy for me when the government decided to fund this project since we already had the channels ready – it was simply a matter of jumping on the wagon and getting involved.”
Nonetheless, a little more than a year passed before the green light was given, and a lot more work was to be done, especially with regard to the organization of screening/re-screening and the choice of screening methods and equipment.
Learning from the experiences of other UNHS programs, notably in the USA and UK, Dr. Konrádsson masterminded the organization, planning and design of an effective and practical screening protocol.
What’s behind the remarkable success of the program?
Dr. Konrádsson explains that an efficient program is one which ensures that a high percentage of babies are screened 4-10 days after birth by well-trained, highly motivated personnel using an effective screening protocol and reliable equipment. This minimizes referrals (in this case, <2%). Two-stage OAE screening was chosen because it’s quick, simple and reliable.
Referrals are examined soon after screening by means of OAE supplemented by AABR. At this stage, any babies failing to pass were given a full diagnostic work-up so that those with genuine hearing loss can be rapidly identified.
Empowering the parents
Parents are seen immediately after identification by a consulting physician and counselors. A strategy for treatment is then proposed and the process of intervention begins with a view to fitting the first hearing aid by 3-4 months of age. In Dr. Konrádsson’s words, “The steps of screening, diagnostics, and intervention all have to relate to each other so that the parents never feel that they are ‘put on hold’.”
Dr. Konrádsson also emphasizes the importance of providing the parents with suitable information material prior to the screening, “We try to create interest and awareness among the parents that the test is voluntary and that it’s important.”
The importance of training for motivation
For Dr. Konrádsson, the human factor is decisive: “We’ve made it clear from the beginning that we need enthusiastic and interested people doing the primary screening and so we have held one-week courses where we have tried to infect them with our enthusiasm and interest.”
He continues, “it’s important that we have good equipment and clear guidelines, but most of all that the people doing the primary screening are highly motivated. I think that in our case, we’ve been lucky to be able to combine all those different parameters.”