6 out of 10 Haredi mothers don't take their children for hearing tests
Even though it's free of charge:
Six out of 10 ultra-Orthodox women don’t take their babies for free hearing checks, according to Tel Aviv University hearing researcher Dr. Sarah Ingber.That's downright terrible that, among the various mistakes being made in Haredi society, they're even negligent about their children's hearing health. They'd better get a move on in finding ways to get through to explaining why it's important to have healthy eardrums.
The expert, speaking on Tuesday before the Knesset Committee for Children’s Rights, said that hearing defects can be treated successfully in many cases if detected early, and that if they are neglected, the window of opportunity to help them can close. [...]
Newborns’ hearing is checked at no cost to parents at the hospital soon after they are born, but the parents are encouraged to take them for a second test a few days after their discharge.
Out of all sectors, ultra-Orthodox women are the least likely to bring their baby for a second test to follow up on its hearing ability. [...]
Acting committee chairman MK Pnina Tamnu-Shata (Yesh Atid) said that hearing disability is the main block preventing proper child development and integration into society. “The earlier they are diagnosed, the more quickly they are diagnosed and helped. Every month that passes is precious and lost forever,” she said.
Deputy Education Minister MK Avraham Wortzman (Bayit Yehudi) announced the opening of a publicity campaign to promote awareness among the public and in state institutions of the need to take babies for hearing tests. “A child who is not diagnosed when young will face 10 times the problems of other children,” he said.
Labels: haredi corruption, Israel
