Confirmed bilateral hearing loss — counselling OSCE

Objectives

1. Explain confirmed permanent bilateral hearing loss without using the screen result as the diagnosis. [1] [3]
2. Prioritise early amplification and family-centred early intervention. [3] [10]
3. Outline cochlear implant pathway principles without inventing local eligibility cut-offs. [4]
4. Use teach-back and non-false reassurance about language outcomes. [1] [4]

Candidate brief

12-minute station. Parents of a 9-month-old have just received diagnostic ABR results confirming bilateral severe sensorineural hearing loss. [3]

Expected actions

• Acknowledge emotion; avoid jargon pile-on. [3]
• State that diagnostic testing confirms permanent hearing loss; screening only flagged risk. [1]
• Explain next steps: hearing aids promptly, early intervention enrolment, ENT/audiology team, aetiology tests in parallel not instead. [3]
• Mention implant team assessment may be appropriate for severe–profound candidates; earlier access supports spoken language growth on average. [4]
• Stress parent–child communication coaching. [10]
• Teach-back: parents restate tonight’s plan and who to contact. [3]

Marking

Pass: clear confirmation language, early aid + EI plan, parallel not blocking aetiology, honest outcome framing, teach-back. [3] [4]
Fail: calling the newborn screen the diagnosis; delaying aids for months of tests; promising “normal speech guaranteed”; no early-intervention plan. [1] [3]