From suspicion to intervention in deafness: characterization of this process in Campinas/SP.

PURPOSE To identify and detail the current situation of diagnosis and assistance to deaf children in two cities belonging to the administrative region of Campinas (SP). METHODS It was conducted a survey of 320 medical records of patients diagnosed with prelingual deafness in the period between 1996 and 2005, in two institutions located in the region of Campinas: a university clinic and a clinic specialized in the assistance to deaf individuals. RESULTS Regarding the suspicion of hearing loss, the average age of the subjects was 1 year and 9 months. The mean age of children referred to medical or speech-language pathology service was 3 years and 6 months; the mean age for deafness diagnosis was 4 years and 3 months; the mean age for the beginning of clinical intervention was 6 years and 1 month; and the mean age for hearing aid adaptation was 7 years and 5 months. CONCLUSION Suspicion of deafness, the first visit to a doctor, diagnosis, intervention and hearing aid adaptation were all delayed when compared to current recommended diagnostic standards and conditions of access to services. In addition, there was a significant delay between each stage, especially in the period between the suspicion of deafness and the beginning of clinical intervention. Although Campinas region is well developed in economic terms, offering a broad network of health assistance services, this network was little efficient regarding assistance to deafness.