Every day, around eight newborn babies across NHS Forth Valley are screened for hearing loss, including deafness, amounting to almost 3,000 babies each year.

NHS Forth Valley recently celebrated 20 years of its Newborn Hearing Screening Programme, marking two decades of early detection and treatment for babies experiencing hearing loss.

Since the programme was launched in 2005, around 58,000 babies born across NHS Forth Valley have been screened. The service has supported thousands of families by identifying hearing challenges within weeks of birth, enabling timely treatment, support and significantly improved outcomes.

NHS Forth Valley’s Newborn Hearing Screening Programme delivers a seven-day service. The team, which is based at Forth Valley Royal Hospital and led by Deputy Charge Midwife, Helena MacDonald, includes three hearing screeners working in community settings, 18 hearing screeners on the postnatal ward, and a further three hearing screeners supporting babies in the Neonatal Unit.

Leza Munro, Paediatric Audiology Services Manager at NHS Forth Valley, said: “Early treatment and support is vitally important. The earlier a child is diagnosed with hearing loss; the sooner we can provide support from the multidisciplinary team. This also supports their speech, language and social development.”

Callum Stein – P6

One child who has benefitted from the programme is 10-year-old Callum Stein. Callum’s hearing journey began with his newborn hearing screening when he was just one day old. Following this, he underwent a diagnostic auditory brainstem response assessment, where he was diagnosed with moderate to severe hearing loss in both ears.

From the age of four weeks, Callum and his family received regular home visits from the specialist hearing impairment team, which includes a speech and language therapist, paediatrician and teacher of the deaf. At just a few months old, Callum was fitted with bilateral hearing aids and began attending regular audiology appointments.

At the age of three, Callum attended a Falkirk Council nursery five mornings a week. During this time, his teacher of the deaf visited regularly and provided training to nursery staff to ensure his needs were fully supported within the educational setting.

Callum Stein as a baby

Callum then progressed to a mainstream primary school, where his teacher of the deaf continues to visit weekly, provides regular progress updates to his parents and remains available by phone whenever additional support is needed.

Callum also attends regular audiology appointments at the Forth Valley Sensory Centre in Camelon.

Callum’s parents, Caroline and David, said: “Hearing the news of Callum’s hearing impairment was initially very upsetting, but we were supported immediately and given information and ongoing support from a variety of sources. This helped us adapt and feel confident about giving Callum the best possible care for his needs.

“The early diagnosis in hospital, combined with the support that followed, has been crucial. As a result, Callum has progressed well both at home and at school.

“The NHS Forth Valley staff based at Camelon Sensory Centre have always been available between appointments, whether we’ve needed reassurance or help with technical issues with Callum’s hearing aids. Each audiologist has treated Callum and our family with care and respect, and over the years, we have built a trusting relationship with them. They have become an important part of our family’s journey.

“Callum’s visiting teacher of the deaf has supported his learning, helped him develop practical skills in managing his hearing aids and equipment, and supported him socially and emotionally. The support he has received since those early days has helped Callum grow into a confident boy who is thriving in all aspects of his life.”

Additional Information

Forth Valley Sensory Centre is a place where people with a visual or hearing loss, their friends, families, carers and the wider community can access services, support and advice from a wide range of partner organisations, including NHS Forth Valley.

The Centre was the first of its kind constructed in the UK and specifically developed for the sensory impaired community.