Deaf Children - FOI Response Register

1. Since the start of 2022 (please break down your answer in months), how many referrals from ENT or others have your audiology department received for children with a middle ear condition such as glue ear?

13 in total – this is the number of direct referrals to Audiology from ENT or others.

This data does not include routine audiograms carried out as part of a referral made directly to ENT for middle ear conditions and seen by Audiology for a hearing test. With regards to this information and in accordance with FOISA s 17(1), NHS Shetland confirms that it does not hold the information requested. This information would require the collation and creation of new information, requiring skill and complex judgement. As such, this information is not considered to be held by NHS Shetland.

Please note:

NHS Shetland only receives referrals and assesses children over the age of 3 ½ – any child below this age is directly referred to NHS Grampian for assessment and treatment.

2. Since the start of 2022, how many of these cases (again by month) would have previously been considered for a surgical intervention such as grommets or a bone conduction implant?

In accordance with FOISA s 17(1), NHS Shetland confirms that it does not hold the information requested. This question needs to be directed to NHS Grampian who provide ENT Services to NHS Shetland

3. Since the start of 2022, how many of the child referrals from ENT or from other sources had mild deafness and how many had moderate deafness?

Of the 75 children directly referred to Audiology since the start of 2022 - 11 had mild deafness, 2 had moderate deafness – (information held and compiled from the direct referrals to Audiology).

4. Since the start of 2022, how many of the child referrals were provided with hearing aids and how many did not receive hearing aids?

There have been no new children fitted with hearing aids since the start of 2022 from the child referrals received and assessed directly by Audiology in NHS Shetland. Please note, children under the age of 5 are fitted with hearing aids by NHS Grampian.

5. What type of hearing aid was provided for these children? e.g. behind the ear hearing aid, bone anchored hearing aid or other type.

N/A – no new children have been fitted by NHS Shetland since the start of 2022 – please note we do not carry out initial paediatric first fittings for children under the age of 5 years, NHS Grampian carry out the fittings for younger children.

6. How many of these young people were referred to education services for deaf children?

Zero – there were no new referrals made to Education Services from the start of 2022.

7. Since the start of 2022, how many of the children and young people referred by ENT or others and seen by audiology were referred to speech and language therapy? Monthly returns if possible.

Zero – Audiology does not refer directly to Speech and Language Therapy. If a child was to be referred to Speech and Language Therapy, this would be carried out by Ear Nose and Throat or the patient’s GP.

8. According to your Record of Deaf Children submission for 2023, how many deaf children do you have in your Health Board area (please break down into five groups: unilateral, then bilateral: mild, moderate, severe and profound)?

NHS Shetland is a small Department covering a small population. We currently have 13 children who are on our annual paediatric reassessment list who have PCHI. The data provided below is from our local patient management system and not from the Record of Deaf Children as this data is this information is currently not robust and is still undergoing national review.

9. How many of these children and young people on the Record of Deaf Children in 2023 were referred to education services since the start of 2022, and how many do education services know of because of previous referrals?

All children who are diagnosed with PCHI are referred to the education services in Shetland. As there were no new children diagnosed with PCHI from the start of 2022, no new referrals to Education have been made. Education services are aware of all 13 children currently recorded on our current review list (both Audiology & Education) and are seen regularly.

10. Which local authority educational services for deaf children has your Health board referred deaf children to during 2023?

Shetland Islands Council – Education Services.