In Kyrgyzstan, the newborn audiological screening program, which has been in operation for several years, allows for the early detection of hearing problems. According to information from the Ministry of Health, early diagnosis of hearing is critically important for the full development of speech and social adaptation of children.
ENT doctor from the National Center for Maternal and Child Health, Munar Beyshenova, noted that hearing tests should be conducted before the child reaches six months of age. The inability to timely identify a disorder can lead to delayed speech development and complicate subsequent rehabilitation.
Since its launch in 2017, the program, supported by TIKA and later UNICEF, has helped equip maternity hospitals with the necessary tools for diagnosis.
The examination procedure includes several stages: the initial screening takes place in the maternity hospital, and if the results raise doubts, a follow-up examination is scheduled between 7 to 30 days. If necessary, in-depth diagnostics (ABR) can be performed to accurately determine the hearing condition.
For children with partial hearing loss, hearing aids are selected, and comprehensive rehabilitation is prescribed. In cases of complete deafness, cochlear implantation may be performed, which has been available at the National Center for Maternal and Child Health since 2018 and is offered free of charge with support from Qatar.
As of today, screening is available in maternity hospitals in Bishkek, as well as in Osh, Jalal-Abad, and Issyk-Kul regions. In 2025, more than 30,000 newborns underwent screening.
According to global statistics, one to three children per thousand are born with hearing impairments. Considering that approximately 138,000 children are born in Kyrgyzstan each year, this means that between 130 to 300 newborns may have congenital hearing impairments. Thus, early diagnosis becomes a decisive factor for successful development and social integration of children.
Experts emphasize that audiological screening provides an opportunity to identify hearing problems in advance and ensure equal conditions for children's development and communication with others.
