- During 2021, HGM performed 1,643 neonatal hearing screening tests.
- Hearing loss is distinguished because it does not cause pain or discomfort to the newborn person.
- Every November 28th, the National Day of the Hearing Impaired is commemorated.
Profound deafness or hearing loss is the most frequent hearing disability worldwide. In fact, it is estimated that for every 1,000 people born alive, three have profound sensorineural hearing loss, which can limit language development and therefore educational, occupational, and social performance.
The head of the Audiology and Phoniatrics Service of the General Hospital of Mexico (HGM) “Dr. Eduardo Liceaga”Laura Reyes Contreras, reported that the hospital performs free of charge the neonatal hearing screening. It is a study to detect hearing loss and is distinguished because it does not cause any pain or discomfort to the newborn person.
He explained that the timely diagnosis of profound hearing loss It offers the possibility of starting rehabilitation with a hearing aid or cochlear implant on time. It is a high-tech device so that the patient has the ability to capture sounds that allow the development of language and literacy.
Care of this hearing disability
He specified that, in 2021, the HGM performed 1,643 neonatal hearing screening tests. In this way, 96 girls and boys with a hearing problem that warranted the start of treatment according to the type of disease were detected on time.
Interviewed in the context of the National Day of the Hearing Impaired, which is commemorated every November 28, the specialist explained that hearing problems in newborns are due to multiple causes. Among the main ones are congenital malformations, premature births, exposure to ototoxic drugs, genetic mutations and congenital viral infections.
November 28 I National Day of People with #Hearing Impairment 🦻🏻
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– HEALTH Mexico (@SSalud_mx) November 28, 2022
He mentioned that the congenital rubella and cytomegalovirus infection they can cause injuries to the fetus in the inner ear and in the nerve, and there is no medical treatment to reverse it, so it is important that pregnant women attend prenatal consultations and have a vaccination schedule.
Cochlear implant for people with hearing impairments
Reyes Contreras explained that the cochlear implant is an electronic device that is surgically placed inside the ear to stimulate the nerve endings in the cochlea and provide the sensation of sound to a person who is totally deaf or has severe hearing impairments.
The HGM is a pioneer in the implementation of the Cochlear Implant Program in the country. It has multidisciplinary human talent headed by a specialist in Audiology, as well as state-of-the-art technology for precise diagnosis and individualized treatment.
recalled that the service Audiology and Phoniatricslocated in the HGM Rehabilitation Tower, provides free medical care to all those people without social security, regardless of age.
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