CMV clinic provides wrap-around care and support for families

A clinic hosted by The Hearing House later this month will focus on the families of children affected by CMV, or cytomegalovirus, with a team of specialists looking at a range of needs.

“Children who have hearing loss as a result of CMV often have additional sensory, motor, and learning needs that may be overlooked or under investigated because hearing loss is the primary concern of parents,” says Holly Teagle, clinical director of The Hearing House.

“The overall goal is to address the whole child and their whānau as they navigate the challenges that come with CMV,” says Holly Teagle, clinical director at The Hearing House.

The clinic offers the opportunity for The Hearing House’s kiritaki/clients and their whānau to receive support from a multi-disciplinary team in the familiar surroundings of The Hearing House.

Specialists taking part in the clinic include a paediatrician, physical and occupational therapists, and an educational psychologist. They will conduct consultations for the families and provide recommendations or information as needed, alongside audiologists and speech language therapists from The Hearing House.

“It’s also to show families that we offer specialised, wrap-around care as part of our services at The Hearing House and that we’re addressing needs beyond hearing loss,” says Associate Professor Teagle. The clinic will set the scene for The Hearing House’s recognition of CMV Awareness Month next month which will also feature a CMV Forum at the University of Auckland on Thursday, 12 June.

The day-long clinic for CMV families, which will be held at The Hearing House on Friday, 23 May, is supported by the Freemasons Foundation which provides funding to community organisations.