A public health awareness campaign called the Starts Hear Campaign has been launched to increase awareness about newborn hearing screening (NHS) and the importance of taking immediate action in the event of a failed screening. The campaign, which started in February 2021, aims to reverse the trend of lack of follow-up and delayed care after a failed NHS.
The Starts Hear Campaign focuses on educating and empowering expectant parents about newborn hearing health and early brain development. By equipping parents with knowledge and resources, the campaign encourages them to act urgently if their baby fails a hearing screening.
Over the past three years, the Starts Hear Campaign has successfully raised awareness among new and expectant parents. More parents now understand the significance of the NHS, why hearing is crucial, and what steps to take after a failed screening.
“Our goal is to ensure that every expectant mother understands how vital hearing is for their baby’s brain development. By acting swiftly, their little ones can benefit from the rich sounds of speech, including lullabies, read-aloud books, and the precious words ‘I love you’ from their parents,” stated Dr. Teresa Caraway, CEO of the Oberkotter Foundation.
The campaign has achieved impressive results, surpassing benchmarks from previous years. Highlights include 690 million total ad views, 155 million video views, and over 4.1 million reminder emails sent to mothers regarding the NHS and next steps after a failed screening.
With early diagnosis, amplification, and intervention, children who are deaf or hard of hearing have bright prospects for Listening and Spoken Language (LSL) outcomes. By raising awareness before birth, the Starts Hear Campaign aims to reshape the early stages of the hearing loss journey for families.
Moving forward into its fourth year, the campaign will intensify its efforts to reach expectant parents and reduce the lack of follow-up and delayed care associated with the NHS. For more information about the Starts Hear campaign and to access the Year Three Report, visit hearingfirst.org/starts-hear-awareness-campaign.
Hearing First, an initiative of the Oberkotter Foundation, is dedicated to providing infants and toddlers who are deaf or hard of hearing with the same opportunities for listening, spoken language, and literacy as their hearing peers. Through free educational resources and online learning experiences, Hearing First supports families and professionals in their journey towards listening and spoken language development.
The Starts Hear Campaign is addressing the issue of lack of follow-up and delayed care after a failed newborn hearing screening (NHS). The campaign, which started in February 2021, aims to increase awareness among expectant parents about the importance of immediate action in the event of a failed screening.
One of the key facts not mentioned in the article is the current market trends in newborn hearing screening. In recent years, there has been a growing emphasis on early diagnosis and intervention for children with hearing loss. This is driven by advancements in technology, such as improved hearing aids and cochlear implants, as well as a better understanding of the benefits of early intervention for language and brain development.
Forecasts suggest that the demand for newborn hearing screening will continue to rise as more countries and healthcare systems recognize the importance of early detection and intervention for children with hearing loss. This will likely lead to increased investment in screening programs and greater awareness campaigns like the Starts Hear Campaign.
However, there are also key challenges and controversies associated with newborn hearing screening. One challenge is the accessibility and availability of screening services in certain regions or countries. Many low-resource settings still lack the infrastructure and trained personnel to implement widespread screening programs. Another controversy is the issue of false-positive and false-negative results, which can cause unnecessary worry or delay in diagnosis for some families.
Overall, the Starts Hear Campaign is making significant progress in raising awareness among expectant parents about the importance of newborn hearing screening and prompt follow-up. With increased awareness and access to early intervention services, children who are deaf or hard of hearing can have better outcomes in listening and spoken language development.
For more information about the Starts Hear Campaign and to access the Year Three Report, you can visit the Hearing First website at hearingfirst.org.