Awareness of hearing loss in newborns and newborn hearing screening facilities among parturient

Parental awareness about hearing loss in newborns and newborn hearing screening programs are important for the early identification and intervention in children with hearing loss. Limited studies have explored the awareness of parturient mothers towards newborn hearing loss, newborn hearing screening, its importance and, the facilities for early hearing screening programs available at hospitals and clinics in the Indian scenario.The current study investigated the awareness of parturient about newborn hearing loss, newborn hearing screening facilities and its importance through a self- administered questionnaire survey. A total of 317 parturient across different clinics and hospitals in the city of Mangalore, state of Karnataka participated in the survey.: Majority of the parturient mothers (71.29%) were aware of the probability of hearing loss among newborns and only 56.46% of the participants had knowledge about the risk factors for newborn hearing loss. Only 42.58% have heard about newborn hearing screening before and 57.42% of the participants were unaware of the hearing screening programs available in hospitals and clinics and its importance. Despite of the education or socio-economic status, there exists a lack of knowledge among parturient mothers about hearing loss in newborns and newborn hearing screening. Responses from the current study raise concern about the need to educate the public particularly the new mothers or expecting mothers about the newborn hearing loss, risk factors for newborn hearing loss, hearing screening programs available in hospitals and clinics and its importance. Early identification of hearing loss in children is crucial for the successful implementation of early hearing intervention and better prognosis.