Childhood hearing screening will be carried out for children of ages 3-5 years across all 31 provinces in the new Iranian year (starts March 20), said Anoushiravan Mohseni Bandpei, head of the State Welfare Organization. “Screening was previously undertaken for children under the age of 2, and the nationwide program was piloted in 13 provinces this year, but will be extended to all provinces next year,” he said at a function on hearing health, IRNA reported. Hearing screening helps identify children with hearing impairment at birth and in infancy and prevents the development of hearing loss in later childhood years. Follow-up through the school years ensures that children with hearing impairment are given treatment in a timely manner.
