Dr Holly Teagle1, Ms Angela Deken3
1University of Auckland, Grafton, New Zealand, 2The Hearing House, Greenlane, New Zealand, 3Te Whatu Ora Waitaha Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand
Biography:
Holly FB Teagle, AuD is a Clinical Audiologist who has provided patient care and collaborated in clinical research related to cochlear implantation and paediatric hearing loss for many years. Currently, Holly is an Associate Professor in Audiology at the University of Auckland and is the Clinical Director of Audiology and Habilitation at The Hearing House (THH) in Auckland, New Zealand. Research interests include the management of hearing loss in children, and cochlear implant outcomes across the lifespan, focusing on device efficacy and clinical management issues.
Abstract
Congenital Cytomegalovirus (cCMV) infection is known to be the most common non-genetic cause of congenital and progressive hearing loss in children. In recent years, there has been raised awareness about cCMV prevention, screening, and multi-disciplinary early intervention for children and families. Various professional hearing health organizations, newborn hearing screening programs, and consensus groups around the world are supporting initiatives for targeted or universal newborn CMV screening. In Aotearoa, New Zealand, a working group of allied health professionals, educators and therapists, and whānau of children impacted by cCMV have been collaborating to identify the resources and processes needed to study, design and implement a culturally and economically appropriate approach to CMV. This presentation offers an overview of some of the existing US models and considers the steps in the pathway to creating a plan for New Zealand. It will likely require the efforts of midwives, audiologists and early interventionists, otolaryngologists and paediatricians, epidemiologists and virologists, as well as community health workers. The time has come to address the nemesis that cCMV is to children and families whose lives are forever impacted by CMV.