Countess of Chester Hospital - Tympanometer Middle Ear Analyser

UPDATE: This equipment was delivered in 2005.

We have been approached by staff at the Countess of Chester Hospital for help in providing improved screening equipment for the Newborn Hearing Screening Programme.

The hospital has asked us to provide a Tympanometer Middle Ear Analyser, which will enable medical staff to accurately assess any problems with a baby's hearing immediately after birth. Because of anatomical differences between a baby's and a child's ear, a high frequency tympanometer is currently the only diagnostic tool available to accurately assess the baby's middle ear function. The hospital would like to make this equipment available to provide the best service possible for young patients. We estimate the equipment will be used on between 125-150 babies each year.

The Newborn Hearing Screening Programme aims to identify permanent childhood hearing impairments by six months of age. Early detection of problems is critical to correct treatment and long-term speech and communication. This can have a lasting effect on children as they start school. The hospital intend to assess all children as soon as possible after birth to ensure that children are referred to the correct community team.

The Tympanometer costs £7,750.