Every day, around 50 newborn babies across NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde (NHSGGC) are screened for hearing challenges, including deafness, totalling to over 16, 000 babies each year.
This week, NHSGGC proudly marked 20 years of its Newborn Hearing Screening Programme, a milestone in early detection and intervention for childhood hearing loss.
Since its launch in 2005, the programme has screened over 250,000 babies and helped thousands of families identify hearing challenges in their children within weeks of birth, enabling timely support and improved outcomes.
The Newborn Hearing Screening Team, made up of 17 dedicated hearing screeners delivering a seven-day-a-week service, celebrated the anniversary at the Royal Hospital for Children, Glasgow (RHC), where the paediatric audiology service is based.
NHSGGC Head of Audiology for Paediatrics, Jim Harrigan said:
“The earlier a child can be diagnosed with a hearing issue, the sooner we can provide interventions medically and socially to support them. This means that children diagnosed with hearing challenges and deafness will have the best foot forward for developing speech and interaction with others.”
One patient who experience exactly that was Scott McAdam (17). Scott was diagnosed with a hearing loss following his newborn screening test on day one. A follow-up assessment confirmed a bilateral profound hearing loss.
At 12 weeks old, Scott was fitted with hearing aids, and from just six weeks old, he received weekly speech and language therapy visits at home. He also attended monthly audiology appointments and was regularly reviewed by Royal Hospital for Children, Glasgow Consultant Dr. Mora.
From 16 weeks of age, Scott attended a Glasgow City Council nursery twice a week, where he received excellent care and fully supported educational opportunities from a very young age. Staff actively participated in his speech and language therapy sessions and even learned some sign language to support his communication.
Scott progressed to mainstream school, where he continued to receive regular audiology follow-ups. These appointments were made more accessible when held within the local community, as the children’s hospital was located on the opposite side of the city. His Teacher of the Deaf visited the school three to four times a year and remained available by phone whenever additional support was required.
In preparation for high school, Scott was assessed by the cochlear implant team at Crosshouse Hospital. The outcome of the assessment was that, due to his effective use of hearing aids, radio aid, and strong lip-reading skills, he would not gain significant additional benefit from a cochlear implant at that stage.
Scott’s mum, Marion said:
“I cannot thank the Audiology Team at the Royal Hospital for Children enough for the 17 years of continuous support they have provided. Their service is exceptional and having worked within the NHS myself for 23 years, it is one of the reasons I remain so proud to be part of it.
“The staff within this department consistently demonstrate compassion, dedication, and professionalism, often going above and beyond expectations. Every member of the RHC Audiology Team I have encountered has shown genuine care at each visit. Over the years, we have built a trusting relationship, and they have become an important part of our family’s journey.
“I truly believe that Scott’s ability to speak, communicate, and thrive as he does today is a direct result of the unwavering support, expertise, and commitment of the audiology team. Their role in his life has been invaluable, and for that, we will always be deeply grateful.”
The Newborn Screening Team are an example of NHSGGC providing children with the best start in life. Jim continued:
“It was a privilege to welcome current and former team members to today’s celebration. Looking back over the past 20 years, it’s remarkable to see the difference we’ve made in so many children’s lives. Thank you to the team for their dedication.”
