Neonatal hearing screening (NHS): Understanding of mothers from photographic resources

Abstract

Abstract: This study sought to understand the moment of NHS for mothers assisted at a speech therapy school clinic in the state of Paraná. Of a descriptive, qualitative nature, opinion – 5.240.496, the research occured in three moments of the NHS, in the first one the characterization of the mothers and their babies was realized through objective questions. In the second moment, during the capture of otoacoustic emissions, a photograph was taken, which was the hook for an interview in the third moment. Five mothers participated, with an average age of 30,6 years-old. There was a predominance of high school education and working life in the commercial sector. All babies had a current average age of 30 days-old. There was no presence of Risk Factors for Hearing Impairment (RFHI) and no baby has had “failed” the test. The understanding of the mothers about the moment of the NHS emphasized antagonisms of feelings, such as care, affection, satisfaction with the test, knowledge about the baby's hearing, like insecurity about the procedure and possible results. The moment of the test consisted of the experience of singular expectations, and previous experiences with interventions caused impacts on this moment, as well as the reduction of suffering due to the already existing knowledge. Mothers reported that the photograph was an important register of their children's hearing care. It is concluded that an intervention carried out in the moment of the NHS promoted a plurality of feelings, which demand the need to promote actions aimed to the humanization of hearing health care.