Detection of the infant with congenital/early acquired hearing disability.

The age at identification and intervention in different samples of children with congenital/early acquired hearing disability is described. The prevalence of congenital/early acquired hearing disability was 1.3/1,000. Among hearing disabled children born 1970-1975 only 16% were identified at the age of one year, whereas among children born 1980-1985, 37% were identified at this age. Children at-risk are not identified earlier than children not-at-risk. In 50-60% the parents are the first to suspect their child's hearing disability, and it is emphasized that non-professional screening resources are present in the general population and should be taken into account. Better information to both professionals and non-professionals about high-risk criteria and about the signs of hearing disability in combination with easy access to a professional audiological unit could improve the early detection and intervention of hearing disabled children.