ALL babies should have their hearing routinely tested, say child health
professionals. But the political system is standing in the way.
Peter Baghurst, from the Public Health Unit at the Women’s and Children’s
Hospital in Adelaide, has written about the issue in the latest newsletter of
the Public Health Association of Australia. He points out that about 500
children are born each year in Australia with permanent hearing impairment.
Their prospects vary according to where they live. Victoria provides a routine
screening test for all babies before they reach nine months, so most serious
problems are detected. The other states…
