Dr Holly Teagle1,2, Jane Jeong1, Pia Padayhag1, Haruna Suzuki-Kerr1, Peter Thorne1
1The University Of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand, 2The Hearing House, Auckland, New Zealand
Congenital Cytomegalovirus (cCMV) is the most common cause of non-genetic hearing loss in children. It also can result in developmental delays, cognitive impairment, and neurologic and neuromotor sequelae. The range of impact on a child in all areas of function can be mild to profound and typically results in the need for diverse medical and habilitation services.
This presentation describes independent but related efforts to understand how cCMV impacts the New Zealand population and details efforts underway to ultimately promote awareness, prevention, and patient-centered management. First, a large research database, the National Minimum Dataset (NMDS), which is a national collection of public and private clinical information in Aotearoa, is being investigated to capture the epidemiology and clinical effects of cCMV. The NMDS holds de-identified micro-data about New Zealanders and is used to conduct cross-sector research.
Second, interviews with community stakeholders, including midwives, otolaryngologists, and audiologists are being undertaken to capture and understand potential ways to reduce the incidence of primary infection in pregnant mothers and streamline ongoing clinical management. As 97% of mothers in New Zealand are served by midwives, awareness and prevention of cCMV is significantly linked to these healthcare providers. Otolaryngologist and audiologists form early relationships with children and families affected by cCMV as hearing loss is often identified via the newborn hearing screening or the subsequent audiologic monitoring protocols.
Finally, we describe a clinical service utilizing interdisciplinary collaboration to support children who experience the multi-faceted effects of cCMV. The Hearing House, which provides cochlear implant services for children in the northern part of New Zealand, has developed and delivered several informational workshops and diagnostic clinics for children, their whanau and their local service providers. These services and the findings are briefly described.
Biography:
Holly Teagle, AuD is an Associate Professor at the University of Auckland in the Audiology Section of the School of Population Health. She is also the Clinical Director at The Hearing House, which provides CI clinical services for the northern part of New Zealand. Holly has been a clinical and research audiologist working in the cochlear implant sector for many years.
Holly.teagle@auckland.ac.nz