§ Mr. Pavittasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what steps his Department is taking to ensure that all children are given hearing tests at about the age of eight months.
§ Mr. MoyleArea health authorities arrange for children to be tested for specific defects at key ages in child health centres, and, where necessary, health visitors perform screening tests in a child's home. Both the Child Health Services (Court) Committee and the Children's Sub-Committee of the Advisory Committee on Services for Hearing Impaired People (ACSHIP) recommended in their reports that all children be screened for hearing at about the age of eight months. My Department is undertaking wide-ranging consultations on both these reports.