Hearing is crucial for language development. Globally, approximately 3 to 5 out of every 1,000 newborns are affected by congenital hearing loss. The Health Promotion Administration (HPA) recommends newborn hearing screening within the first 72 hours after birth, followed by an early diagnosis before the age of 3 months. Timely hearing and speech therapy should be provided before 6 months of age, and hearing aids or rehabilitation should be introduced based on professional evaluation, allowing children to hear the beauty of the world.

Taiwan Leads the World in Newborn Hearing Screening with a Coverage Rate of Over 98%

     According to the WHO's 2021 Hearing Report and research by Neumann and others, 38% of newborns worldwide did not undergo hearing screening in 2020, and about one-third of countries lacked newborn hearing screening services. Only 41 countries achieved a coverage rate of over 85%, accounting for 20% of all countries globally. If hearing loss in children is not identified and treated in time, it will affect language development and social interaction. Since hearing loss is not immediately apparent, many parents struggle to identify it in their newborns through daily observation. This has led to widespread efforts to ensure universal hearing screening. Taiwan has been promoting hearing screening services for newborns within 3 months of birth since 2012, with a consistent coverage rate of above 90%, and in recent years, it has exceeded 98%, making Taiwan one of the best-performing countries in the world.

Case Study of Seizing the Golden 72-Hour Screening Period: Helping Children Hear and Speak

      In 2023, according to the Health Promotion Administration Statistics, a total of 134,082 newborns underwent hearing screening, achieving a screening rate of 98.9%. Of these, 786 children were diagnosed with hearing loss. A case of a 1-year and 8-month-old child, Lele, shares valuable insights. Lele’s mother recalls that her baby failed the initial hearing test within three days of birth, and the second test two days later also showed no improvement. Lele was referred to the hospital where hearing loss was confirmed. Fortunately, by 2 months old, Lele began wearing appropriate hearing aids and received regular therapy and follow-up care under the guidance of Dr. Wu Chen-Chi from the Department of Otolaryngology at National Taiwan University Hospital. Now, Lele responds well to external sounds. The mother expressed "Thanks to the newborn hearing screening service, my baby's hearing problem was detected and treated early."

Make Good Use of the "Children Health Handbook" to Continuously Monitor Your Child's Hearing Health

      Passing the newborn hearing screening does not guarantee that a child will not develop hearing problems later. Factors such as otitis media, trauma, meningitis, or infections can result in delayed hearing loss or impairment. Therefore, parents should continue to monitor their child's hearing status. If hearing loss is detected at the age of 3 to 4 years or even later, it could impact communication, cognition, reading, and social interaction, potentially resulting in developmental delays compared to same age peers.
Health Promotion Administration recommends that parents use the "Simple Home-Based Hearing Behavioral Checklist " in the "Children Health Handbook" to observe and assess how their child reacts to sounds and their language performance. For example, between 3 and 6 months, does the baby show interest in sounds? Between 7 and 12 months, does the baby enjoy playing with toys that make sounds? 　Between 1 and 2 years old, can the child say simple words like "dad" or "mom"? In addition, if a 3 to 4-year-old child displays delayed language development, unclear speech, or frequently turns up the TV volume or seems unresponsive to family members calling, parents should remain vigilant and take their child for a medical checkup with an ENT specialist to detect any potential hearing issues and avoid missing a critical window for language development.

Follow the "1-3-1-6 Principle" for Hearing Screening to Ensure Healthy Development

    Director General Wu Chao-Chun of the Health Promotion Administration urges parents to prioritize their newborn's hearing health by ensuring that hearing screening is completed within "1 month" of birth, diagnostic tests are carried out within "3 months", hearing aids are fitted within "1 month" after diagnosis, and hearing and speech therapy is initiated within "6 months." Currently, 259 medical institutions nationwide offer newborn hearing screening services, with 64 providing diagnostic services. Early screening, timely treatment, and proper rehabilitation are essential for identifying hearing issues in young children and delivering appropriate care. This ensures that babies with hearing loss receive professional auditory care in the early stages of life, guaranteeing healthy development for every child.