Universal Newborn Hearing Screening

On November 30, 2001 Gov. Mark Schweiker signed into law a bill that will
require all infants to be screened for hearing loss within the first 30 days of birth.
“Every newborn should be able to hear the calming sound of a parent’s voice or a sweet
lullaby at bedtime,” Gov. Schweiker said. “This new law will allow us to identify children with hearing impairments as early as possible. By having newborns undergo a hearing-loss screening, parents will know if their baby needs help to hear -- and then can get the appropriate treatment to ensure their child will lead a fulfilling life.”

Everyday, 33 babies are born in the United States with permanent hearing loss. That
translates into about 400 babies born each year in Pennsylvania with a hearing impairment. The American Academy of Pediatrics cites significant hearing loss as one of the most common major abnormalities present at birth. If undetected, it can impede speech, language and cognitive development. Early identification and appropriate intervention can lead to improvements in speech and language development in affected children, thereby improving the likelihood of positive social, emotional, cognitive and academic development. The National Institutes of Health recommends that infants with hearing loss be diagnosed before three months of age and receive early intervention services no later than six months of age.

Senate Bill 100 was sponsored by state Sen. Charles Lemmond (R-Luzerne). The screenings required by the bill will be done as part of the “standard of care” performed on all newborns by hospitals, which is covered by insurance. The cost of the screening is expected to be approximately $15 to $20. The bill requires the Department of Health to seek grants from federal agencies for infrastructure and physician education. The Health Department also will put a referral system into place for parents who need assistance.

Dr. Diane Sabo, Core Audiology Faculty Member at the UCLID Center has been a long time advocate of universal newborn hearing screening. She has been involved through professional organizations and through state advocacy efforts to get this new law passed. Dr. Sabo will be instrumental in setting up the programs and procedures to assure that the new law works on behalf of children and families. UCLID fellows can participate in this program development and evaluation.