title: First information parents receive after UNHS detection of their baby's hearing loss.
abstract: The first information parents receive after referral through Universal Newborn Hearing Screening (UNHS) has significant consequences for later care-related decisions they take and thus for the future of the child with a hearing loss. In this study, 11 interviews were conducted with a representative sample of Flemish service providers to discover (a) the content of the information provided to parents and (b) the service providers' assumptions and beliefs concerning deafness and care. To do this, we conducted an interpretative phenomenological analysis, followed by a discourse analysis. Results showed that parents receive diverse information, depending on the reference center to which they are referred. Moreover, all service providers used a medical discourse. We suggest that there is value to be gained from closer consideration of the nature of follow-up services provided in response to UNHS in Flanders and from auditing the professional preparation of service providers that are involved in providing information to parents.
authors.affiliation: Research Group Interpersonal, Discursive and Narrative Studies, Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium. lmatthij@vub.ac.be
authors.forename: Liesbeth
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Matthijs
authors.forename: Gerrit
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Loots
authors.forename: Kimberley
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Mouvet
authors.forename: Mieke
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Van Herreweghe
authors.forename: Stefan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hardonk
authors.forename: Geert
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Van Hove
authors.forename: Martine
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Van Puyvelde
authors.forename: Greg
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Leigh
mesh_terms: D001530:Belgium; D003142:Communication; D003638:Deafness / Q000151:congenital / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D003657:Decision Making; D003695:Delivery of Health Care / Q000379:methods; D030881:Disclosure; D042241:Early Diagnosis; D060345:Education of Persons with Hearing Disabilities / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D015997:Neonatal Screening / Q000523:psychology; D010290:Parents / Q000193:education* / Q000523:psychology; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000379:methods; D012017:Referral and Consultation