Hearing is not just a sense but a bridge for communication, learning and connecting with the world around us. Maintaining hearing health plays an essential role in human development, directly influencing language acquisition, communication development and social integration. Speech and language development, spatial orientation, social communication, cognitive development and academic performance are closely related to hearing status.

Studies show that congenital hearing loss affects, on average, between 1 and 3 in 1000 newborns. Without early detection and intervention, children born with hearing impairments risk developmental delays in all of the areas mentioned above, which can have long-term negative consequences. In this context, neonatal hearing screening becomes an indispensable procedure for early identification of hearing loss.

Neonatal hearing screening is a non-invasive, rapid and painless method used to assess the hearing ability of newborns. It is usually performed in the maternity ward in the first 48-72 hours of life.

Early detection and appropriate and immediate treatment of hearing problems through drug treatment, hearing aids, cochlear implantation, bone conduction implantation, supported by auditory-verbal (re)habilitation, can prevent developmental delays and enable the hearing impaired child to reach his or her full potential.

Hearing screening is an investment in the future of children and society and for Romania, important steps have been taken since 2005 through the initiative of the late Prof. Dr. Alexandru Pascu from I.F.A.C.F – ENT Prof. Dr. Dorin Hociotă from Bucharest, who started with a pilot project, which was later joined by civil society represented by the associations.

The National Neonatal Hearing Screening Program in Romania was formalized by the Order of the Ministry of Health no. 4 of January 3, 2017. The Universal Newborn Hearing Screening protocol was approved at that time, standardizing the method of hearing testing by acoustic otoemissions. Later, the Ministry of Health expanded the hearing screening program nationwide. By December 2018, the program has been implemented in 186 maternity wards and neonatal intensive care units, providing hearing testing of newborns nationwide. Although challenging at first, this program has become a public health priority that can give every newborn a chance at a harmonious life.

In order for this program to work to its full potential, there is still a need for awareness campaigns among parents and medical professionals, the involvement of specialists in training programs, the involvement of the public and private sector for the financing of equipment and appropriate health policies, through the development and improvement of the field of audiology in Romania.

Audiologist-Psychologist Magda Cernea