Canadian Working Group on Childhood Hearing

The Canadian Working Group on Childhood Hearing (CWGCH) is committed to the following guiding principles: National Role: Providing leadership in the development and dissemination of guidelines for early hearing detection and intervention in Canada. Evidence-based Approach: An evidence-based approach to the development of guidelines for early hearing detection and intervention, through the systematic review of currently available research and program information. Family-centred Approach: An integrated approach to families, reflecting an understanding of the physical, emotional, mental and psychosocial aspects of hearing detection and intervention for children with hearing impairment and their families. Partnership and Collaboration: Working in partnership with various stakeholders, including federal, provincial and territorial governments; professional associations; consumers/parents; and national and international experts in otolaryngology, audiology, speech-language pathology, nursing, child health and public health. Fostering collaboration between all stakeholders to build on experiences, create linkages and provide opportunities for further capacity building and promotion of best practices in hearing detection and intervention.

The Canadian Working Group on Childhood Hearing (CWGCH) was established in September 2000 by Health Surveillance and Epidemiology Division, Centre for Healthy Human Development, as part of Health Canada's on-going commitment to perinatal and child health in Canada. The mandate of the CWGCH is to develop guidelines for early hearing detection and intervention to address the needs of children with hearing loss and their families in Canada. Permanent childhood hearing impairment affects approximately 1 to 6 babies per 1,000 live births and up to 1 in 50 among infants in neonatal intensive care units.1-3 Targeted screening of high risk children (e.g., those with a family history or a medical risk factor) is estimated to identify only 50% of children with severe hearing impairment.3,4 For children who are not screened routinely or through a targeted program, severe hearing impairment can go undetected in the majority for up to 3 years, the most critical period of language development. On the other hand, children with hearing impairment who are identified early and who subsequently receive appropriate intervention have a significantly improved chance of developing age-appropriate language and communication skills.5 A 1999 national survey funded by Health Canada found that only 10% of birthing hospitals in Canada reported having a newborn hearing screening program.6 There is growing awareness and dialogue at the federal level and among selected provincial governments, professional health associations, educators and other stakeholders about early hearing detection and intervention as an important public health issue. The CWGCH brings together various stakeholders to ensure a coordinated national approach to the issue.

The CWGCH includes representation from Health Surveillance and Epidemiology Division and the Childhood and Youth Division, Centre for Healthy Human Development, Health Canada; the Canadian Academy of Audiology; the Canadian Association of Educators of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing; the Canadian Association of Speech-Language Pathologists and Audiologists; the Canadian Paediatric Society; the Canadian Society of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery; the Childhood Hearing Network of Canada; the College of Family Physicians of Canada; selected experts in otolaryngology, audiology, speech-language pathology, nursing, child health and public health; and a parent/consumer representative.

To achieve its mandate, the main activities of the CWGCH include:

• A review of current practices and services in Canada, in relation to early hearing detection and intervention for children with hearing loss.
• Preparing and systematically reviewing relevant information on early hearing detection and intervention to provide an evidence-based approach to the development of national guidelines.
• Organizing a national workshop on Early Hearing Detection and Intervention in Canada to provide a forum for federal, provincial and territorial governments and healthcare professionals, educators and consumers to contribute towards the development of guidelines for early hearing detection and intervention.
• Facilitating the dissemination and implementation of the guidelines for early hearing detection and intervention.

Reference

1. Hyde ML, Riko K, Corbin H, Moroso M, Alberti PW. A neonatal hearing screening research program using brainstem electric response audiometry. J Otolaryngol. 1984; 13:49-54.

2. Durieux-Smith A, Picton TW, Edwards CG, MacMurray B, Goodman JT. Brainstem electric-response audiometry in infants of a neonatal intensive care unit. Audiology. 1987; 26:284-97.

3. Watkins P, Baldwin M, McEnery G. Neonatal at risk screening and the identification of deafness. Arch Dis Child. 1991; 66:1130-5.

4. Durieux-Smith A, Whittingham J. Rationale for neonatal hearing screening. JSLPA. 2000 (In press).

5. Yoshinaga-Itano C, Sedey AL, Coulter DK, Mehl AL. Language of early- and late-identified children with hearing loss. Pediatrics. 1998; 102:1161-71.

6. Brown DK, Dort JC, Sauvé R. Newborn hearing screening programs: A truly Canadian perspective. JSLPA. 2000 (In press).

Requests for additional information on the CWGCH may be sent to:

Canadian Working Group on Childhood Hearing
Maternal and Infant Health Section
Health Surveillance & Epidemiology Division
Jeanne Mance Building # 19, 10th Floor, A.L. 1910C
Tunney's Pasture
Ottawa, Ontario
K1A 0K9
(E-mail: CWGCH@hc-sc.gc.ca)

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February 2001