Task Force Recommends Screening for Hearing Loss in All Newborns

ROCKVILLE, Md., July 3 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- All newborn infants
should be screened for congenital hearing loss that is present at birth,
according to a new recommendation from the U.S. Preventive Services Task
Force. The recommendation and the accompanying summary of evidence appear
in the July 7 issue of Pediatrics.

Children whose hearing is impaired at birth, during infancy or in early
childhood can have problems with verbal and nonverbal communication and
social skills, increased behavioral problems, and lower academic
achievement compared with children with normal hearing. Infants at high
risk for hearing loss include those who have spent more than 2 days in a
neonatal intensive care unit; those diagnosed with certain syndromes, such
as Waardenburg or Usher syndrome; and those with a family history of
childhood hearing loss. Because half of infants with hearing loss have no
identifiable risk factors, the Task Force proposes universal screening,
rather than targeted screening. Detecting and treating infants for hearing
loss, rather than detecting it at a later age, provides better chances for
positive outcomes such as stronger language skills.

For every 1,000 infants born in the United States, congenital hearing
loss occurs in between one and three infants. Congenital hearing loss
happens more frequently than other conditions typically screened for as
part of a health care evaluation. Infants should be screened before they
are 1 month old; those who do not pass the screening should receive further
hearing and medical evaluation before they are 3 months old. Thirty-nine
U.S. states have enacted legislation related to universal newborn hearing
screening. Laws differ on whether screening is mandated or encouraged, how
results are reported and how screening is funded.

"Screening for hearing loss should be part of every newborn infant's
health care evaluation," said Task Force Chair Ned Calonge, M.D., who is
also chief medical officer for the Colorado Department of Public Health and
Environment. "Screening at birth allows for hearing loss to be detected
early and is associated with better outcomes for infants who test
positive."

The Task Force recommends screening using a two-step screening process
that includes otoacoustic emissions followed by auditory brainstem response
in those infants who fail the first test. Otoacoustic emissions check the
inner ear response to sound and are measured by placing a very sensitive
microphone in the ear canal to measure the ear's response. The auditory
brainstem response checks the brain's response to sound and is measured by
placing electrodes on the infant's head to record the brain's response to
sound. Good evidence was found that newborn hearing screening testing is
highly accurate and leads to earlier identification and treatment of
infants with hearing loss. Good evidence was also found demonstrating that
early detection and treatment improve language outcomes.

The Task Force is the leading independent panel of experts in
prevention and primary care. The Task Force, which is supported by AHRQ,
conducts rigorous, impartial assessments of the scientific evidence for the
effectiveness of a broad range of clinical preventive services, including
screening, counseling, and preventive medications. Its recommendations are
considered the gold standard for clinical preventive services. The Task
Force based its conclusions on a report from a research team led by Heidi
Nelson, M.D., at AHRQ's Evidence-based Practice Center at the Oregon Health
& Science University in Portland.

The recommendations and materials for clinicians are available on the
AHRQ Web site at http://www.ahrq.gov/clinic/uspstf/uspsnbhr.htm. Previous
Task Force recommendations, summaries of the evidence, and related
materials are available from the AHRQ Publications Clearinghouse by calling
(800) 358-9295 or sending an e-mail to ahrqpubs@ahrq.hhs.gov. Clinical
information is also available from AHRQ's National Guideline Clearinghouse
at http://www.guideline.gov.

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[Via Healthcare]