According to official data, in 2025, more than 30,000 newborns underwent the screening procedure.
Global statistics indicate that one to three children out of a thousand are born with hearing impairments.
Considering that approximately 138,000 children are born in Kyrgyzstan each year, it can be assumed that 130–300 of them may have congenital hearing impairments. Therefore, early diagnosis is of paramount importance—timely identification of problems and proper rehabilitation open the way for children to full development and successful social adaptation.
Hearing checks in the first days of life should become a standard procedure for all newborns, as hearing is a key element in the development of speech, thinking, and effective communication.
Photo by the Ministry of Health of the KR
Experts note that previously, hearing impairments in children were mainly recorded at the age of 3–6 years, when opportunities for effective correction were limited. However, the situation is gradually improving.
Currently, audiological screening is conducted in various maternity hospitals located in Bishkek, as well as in the Osh, Jalal-Abad, and Issyk-Kul regions. If any region lacks the necessary equipment, newborns are referred to the National Center for Maternal and Child Health (NCMCH) for examination by audiologists via electronic referral.
ENT doctor and project manager for audiological screening in Kyrgyzstan, Munar Beyshenova, emphasizes that hearing checks should be conducted before the child is six months old. If the problem is not identified in time, it can lead to delays in speech development, and rehabilitation at a later age often proves to be more complicated and less effective.
The audiological screening program in the country has been functioning since 2017.
Its launch was made possible with the support of TIKA, and further development has been facilitated through cooperation with UNICEF, which helped equip medical institutions with the necessary equipment.
The examination procedure takes place in several stages. In the first stage, newborns are screened right in the maternity wards. If the initial screening is unsuccessful, it is repeated after 7–30 days, as there may be fluid in the ears or technical issues may arise.
If the repeated check also does not yield clear results, the baby is referred for a more in-depth examination, which allows for an accurate assessment of hearing status and, if necessary, the initiation of treatment and rehabilitation.
After diagnosis, specialists develop an individual treatment and rehabilitation strategy. For partial hearing loss, children are provided with hearing aids and comprehensive rehabilitation is organized. In cases of complete deafness, the child is referred for cochlear implantation. Such surgeries have been performed in Kyrgyzstan since 2018 at the NCMCH, and now, thanks to support from Qatar, they are carried out free of charge. After surgery, children continue to undergo a long course of rehabilitation under the supervision of specialists.
