New 'SoundPath' project to help autistic children with hearing loss

A groundbreaking initiative aimed at supporting children with both autism and hearing loss has been launched in Hong Kong to address the dual challenges of  "diagnostic delays" and "service mismatches" faced by these children.

The “A SoundPath Project”, organized by the Phonak Hearing Centre Hong Kong and sponsored by the Koo’s Giving Charitable Foundation, will offer a comprehensive suite of services, including detailed hearing assessments, personalized hearing aids, and follow-up family and educational support.

Kam Ping-kay, managing director of the Phonak Hearing Centre Hong Kong and former chairman of the Hong Kong Society of Audiology, emphasized the importance of early intervention.

"We have encountered cases where children were diagnosed with autism, only to discover hearing loss three years later. During this time, they were placed in autism-only educational institutions, missing the critical period for auditory-verbal therapy," Kam said.

"This often leads to severe behavioral issues due to prolonged communication difficulties."

The program's first phase will prioritize 50 low-income families, providing them with free hearing tests and personalized hearing aids if hearing loss is detected.

Additionally, children will be referred to follow-up support services to aid their development.

Kathy Lee Yuet-sheung, co-founder of Speech and Hearing Social Enterprise and a university professor, highlighted the significant link between autism and hearing loss.

Citing a 2020 study, Lee noted that children with autism are 4.7 times more likely to have hearing loss compared to their non-autistic peers.

"Autism and hearing loss can present similar symptoms, such as a weak response to human voices, making it difficult to determine whether the lack of response is due to behavioral issues or sensory deficits," Lee said.

(Ayra Wang)