World Hearing Day is held on March 3 each year to raise awareness on how to prevent deafness and hearing loss across the world, and for more than 20 years NEC Software Solutions (NECSWS) has been helping to ensure a brighter future for children by means of an online information and performance management system that supports newborn hearing screening programs.

Supporting International Initiatives for Infants

Studies have shown that one to two babies in every 1,000 are born with a hearing impairment in one or both ears, most into families with no history of hearing loss. Typically, since young children are not able to communicate effectively, a family may not recognize the hearing loss of a child until roughly 3 years old, which leads to delays in the development of speech and language skills.

This led to the question, what would happen if hearing disorders could be identified through a simple test almost immediately after birth? Early detection allows for early measures to be taken and increases the likelihood of healthy speech and language development. Therefore, the National Health Service (NHS) in the UK began implementing its newborn hearing screening program in 2002.

While preparing to launch the program, the NHS needed to find a reliable partner to provide system development support. NECSWS was the natural choice. The company has a proven history of driving the progress of digital transformation in the public sector, helping to deliver vital information when and where it is needed for central and local governments, healthcare organizations, emergency services and more.

In consideration of this, the NHS chose NECSWS as a partner to develop an online information and performance management system for its hearing screening program.

Contributing to efficient and accurate data management

Today, the system holds data from every NHS maternity unit throughout the country, taking results directly from the testing equipment, which reduces human input error, improves data quality and reduces the burden of administration.

As for the newborn hearing test itself, it is called an automated otoacoustic emission (AOAE) test, only takes a few minutes to administer, and is not upsetting to babies.

A small soft-tipped earpiece is placed within a baby's ear and gentle clicking sounds are played. Reactions to the sounds enable physicians to evaluate the level of a baby's hearing. NECSWS's data management software helps to ensure that data is accurately recorded and that doctors have easy access to a national database of valuable information. This can contribute to the early and accurate diagnose of hearing issues, enabling the effective treatment of conditions from an early stage.

Moreover, health care professionals who identify, evaluate, and manage hearing disorders can also request a peer review through the system. The software ensures that data is anonymous, then presents it to another specialist. If both the original and peer-reviewed outcomes are different, then the system links the two specialists so that they can discuss the case.

This means specialists can get a second opinion without the need to travel. More importantly, it means babies and their families don't need a second appointment.

In terms of reliability, the system runs through multiple servers, network links and storage area networks (SAN) to ensure that it provides a high level of storage, storage protection, speed and performance.

To date, the NECSWS system has screened more than 10 million babies for hearing loss, including its use by the Health Service Executive (HSE), which provides public health and social care services for all of Ireland. Moreover, in addition to being responsible for delivering the complete screening service for the HSE, NECSWS also provides "onsite" service for all maternity sites nationwide.

Meeting the needs of society

In line with NEC's Purpose, "To create the social values of safety, security, fairness and efficiency to promote a more sustainable world where everyone has the chance to reach their full potential," the value provided by solutions from NECSWS extends far beyond the medical field and includes mission-critical systems for essential areas such as government, police, and fire services.

When speaking about the company's strengths, Tina Whitley, CEO of NECSWS says, "A common thread among the solutions and services that NECSWS provides for numerous fields is that they help to ensure positive outcomes. The systems we provide for the NHS and HSE hearing screening programs make an important difference to patients and health professionals every day, and I am proud to be leading the organization that provides them."

Although this system and others like it from NECSWS may not grab headlines in the national news, they are certainly keeping communities safer, healthier, and better connected. Going forward, NECSWS will continue driving the development of solutions that support society behind the scenes and add meaningful value to people's lives everywhere.

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