Framework for a need assessments in East Java

Framework for a needs assessment for the provision of audiology services

to children in East Java.

(1) CURRENT SERVICES

·         What current ENT, Audiology and Speech Therapy services are available in Surabaya/East Java?

·         Where are they located?

·         Who provides the service?

·         What type of training do the professional staff have?

·         What education facilities are there for deaf and hearing-impaired children before they start school?

·         What training do teachers of the deaf have?

(2)  CURRENT HEARING HEALTH INDICATORS

·         What is the prevalence of permanent hearing loss in children in East Java/Java/Indonesia?

·         What are the major causes of hearing loss in these children?

·         What immunization programs are currently available, and is this available across the whole paediatric population?

·         What proportion of deaf/hearing-impaired children have hearing aids or cochlear implants?

·         What is the age at which most children are first fitted with hearing aids?

·         What proportion of deaf/hearing-impaired children use sign language. What sign language do they use?

·         What is the cost of hearing aids and batteries?

·         Where do infants/children go for the fitting of hearing aids? Which professionals do they see, and how often are they seen?

(3) WHAT WOULD NEED TO BE DEVELOPED FOR THE PROVISION OF EARLY IDENTIFICATION AND INTERVENTION SERVICES FOR DEAF AND HEARING IMPAIRED CHILDREN?

3.1 Newborn hearing screening

·         Where would the testing be performed? (Are most children born at home? Do most children attend an infant clinic for health monitoring/immunization?

·         Who would perform the hearing screening  testing?

·         What training would these staff need?

·         What equipment would be needed?

·         Where would children go if they have failed the screening test?

·         Who/where would full diagnostic audiology services be provided?

·         What training/equipment would be needed?

·         What would this cost?

·         What are the timelines for implementation?

3.2 Early (infant and pre-school) intervention services

·         Where would children/parents go for support services once a child has been diagnosed with a permanent hearing loss?

·         Could early intervention centres be link to current deaf schools?

·         Would teachers/speech therapists need additional training for providing educational support to pre-school aged children (e.g. auditory-verbal training, sign language training?)

·         What training/equipment would be needed?

·         What would this cost?

·         What are the timelines for implementation?

3.3 Hearing aids for children from diagnosis

·         What would be needed to start a government program that provides hearing aids/batteries to children diagnosed with hearing loss

·         Could a program be developed where government is able to purchase large numbers of hearing aids/batteries for children (at reduced cost through tenders)?

·         Could hearing aids/batteries be at least partially subsidized by government with contributions from parents?

·         Where would these services best be delivered? Hearing Centres connected with schools for deaf children, hospitals or independent hearing clinics?

·         Who would provide these audiology services and what training would be required?

·         What costs would be involved?

·         What are the implementation timeframes?

4. Government Offices and other Institutions with whom we need to talk to.

     Visits to at least the following places would be very helpful:

·         Dr Soetomo Hospital (ENT, Audiology, Speech Therapy)

·         University departments providing training in ENT, Audiology, Speech Therapy and Teaching (of deaf children), Unesa (universitas Negeri Surabaya)

·         Family centres and/or early childhood clinics for assessment and immunisations

·         Hearing aid clinics /dispensaries in Surabaya and East Java – Training

·         Cochlear Implant Centre