Defining Essential Services for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Children during the COVID‐19 Pandemic

Abstract

<jats:p> COVID-19 is a rapidly growing global pandemic caused by a novel coronavirus. With no vaccine or definitive treatment, public health authorities have recommended a strategy of “social distancing,” reducing individual interaction, canceling elective procedures, and limiting nonessential services. Health care providers must determine what procedures are considered “elective,” balancing risk of treatment delays with that of coronavirus exposure to patient, family, and providers. Given critical periods for language development and the long-term impact of auditory deprivation, some audiologic and otologic services should be considered essential. In this article, we describe the experience of a quaternary referral pediatric hospital in Seattle, the epicenter of COVID-19 in the United States, and share strategies for risk minimization employed by Seattle Children’s Hospital. We hope that this work can be a reference for other centers continuing care for children who are deaf and hard of hearing during the COVID-19 and future resource-limiting crises. </jats:p>

Recomendaciones para la atención fonoaudiológica en las áreas de audiología y otoneurología en contexto COVID-19: Una revisión narrativa

“…Debido a los periodos críticos del desarrollo del lenguaje y al impacto a largo plazo de la deprivación auditiva, algunos servicios de audiología deberían ser considerado esenciales (Pattisapu et al, 2020). Gran dilema y variabilidad se ha generado respecto a la definición de los servicios esenciales versus servicios no esenciales.…”

“…Lo anterior debido a que se consideran esenciales estas atenciones, incluso durante la pandemia. Lo anterior basado en que 1 o 2 meses de retraso pueden tener implicaciones negativas para el lenguaje y desarrollo del paciente (Pattisapu et al, 2020).…”

“…Además, se incluyen derivaciones consideradas urgentes por los servicios de hematología-oncología, craneofacial y otorrinolaringología para evaluar la pérdida auditiva resultante de la enfermedad o tratamiento médico. La pérdida auditiva unilateral no fue considerada una indicación urgente de audiometría, a menos que fuera de inicio súbito (Pattisapu et al, 2020).…”

“…Además, con el rápido crecimiento de la pandemia a nivel global y sin contar con vacuna o tratamiento definitivo, las autoridades de salud pública han recomendado limitar las prestaciones de salud no esenciales. Por consiguiente, la atención sanitaria debe determinar qué procedimientos son considerados "electivos", buscando el equilibrio entre el riesgo del retraso en tratamiento y la potencial exposición al COVID-19 (Pattisapu et al, 2020).…”

The Interaction of Natural and Vaccine-Induced Immunity with Social Distancing Predicts the Evolution of the COVID-19 Pandemic

“…In the absence of a vaccine, restricting social interaction is the only way to slow the spread; however, many countries where this has been effective are now experiencing a resurgence of infections with further restrictions being imposed. Such restrictions are accompanied by worsening mental and physical health (3,4), delays in "nonessential" medical services (5,6), increased domestic violence (7), and significant negative effects on education and research (8), the economy and travel both within and between countries. The effects of these secondary consequences of the pandemic may prove worse than the direct effect of the virus (9).…”