Asian Research Thesis Index

Abstract

Hearing impairment (HI) in children is globally prevalent and neonatal  hearing screening (NHS) programs detect hearing loss(HL) in newborns  at the earliest stage for early intervention leading towards rehabilitation.  Such NHS programs have been established in the developed countries  since decades and are also being implemented in many developing  countries except Pakistan. Initiationof NHS programs is not the priority  of the health policy makers and except for the Government of Sindh the  federal nor any of the provincial governments have legislated on  NHS.The present study is based upon the perceptions of parents of  hearing impaired (HI) children in the special schools and hospitals and  puts forward the proposition that although HI children are suffering and  eventually placing a financial and economic burden ,with its negative  societal impact affecting the speech and language development and  compromising on the quality of life of the HI child , no initiative has been  taken by the federal government to address the lack of NHS in  Pakistan.Interviews were conducted with the health policy makers and  hospital administrators. The barriers to NHS comprise of policy,  legislative and operational barriers and the priority accorded to NHS is at  the lowest rung of the health care agenda in Pakistan. What is perceived  to be lacking in the initiation, planning and implementation of any NHS  program in Pakistan is that there is not enough priority accorded to it  perhaps as it is not sensationalised in the electronic and press media to  catch the attention of the policy makers. As HI is not a visible disability it is not perceived to be a serious public health issue amongst the public.  The international health organizations have not put their weight and  technical assistance nor voiced any support for initiating of NHS in  Pakistan.Hence the health policy makers do not feel any compulsion to  adhere to international declarations and conventions on NHS. The non existence of NHSand late detection of HI in Pakistan costs deeply in  economic and financial terms to the state and individuals as well in the  long term. Data about the prevalence of HL is available to some extent  but admittedly there is paucity of research on NHS and the concerned  health authorities have not advocated any research in the public sector.

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