ArticleInternational journal of environmental research and public health2025
Caregiver Challenges and Opportunities for Accessing Early Hearing Detection and Intervention: A Narrative Inquiry from South Africa.
Article in International journal of environmental research and public health, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
2 citing papers in PubMed.
- Bridging the policy-practice gap: A call for urgent early intervention and early education South African policy reform for children who are deaf or hard-of-hearing.The South African journal of communication disorders = Die Suid-Afrikaanse tydskrif vir Kommunikasieafwykings · 2026Article
- A narrative review on cost considerations in early intervention for deaf and/or hard-of-hearing children in Africa.Health policy and planning · 2026Review
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
2 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundEarly Hearing Detection and Intervention (EHDI) is essential for minimising the negative impact of childhood hearing loss on speech, language, and cognitive development. However, in low- and middle-income countries such as South Africa, various challenges hinder the implementation of EHDI services, leading to delayed diagnosis and intervention.
aimThis study explores caregivers' experiences with EHDI services, identifying key challenges and facilitators affecting access and timely intervention.
methodsA narrative inquiry approach was used as part of a broader research initiative on family-centred EHDI. Nine caregivers of children who are deaf or hard of hearing (DHH) were purposively sampled, and data were collected through semi-structured interviews.
resultsThematic analysis revealed systemic and structural challenges, logistical and financial constraints, and caregiver-related factors that hindered access to EHDI services. Key facilitators included caregiver knowledge and advocacy, family support services such as counselling and South African Sign Language training, and high-quality audiological and educational services.
conclusionsFindings emphasise the need for policy-driven reforms, including expanding newborn hearing screening programmes, improving financial assistance mechanisms, and increasing public awareness. Addressing these challenges and leveraging facilitators can help South Africa align with global EHDI benchmarks and improve outcomes for DHH children.
Indexed as
Identifiers
What OpenQuestion holds
Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.