The jury was out the last time US Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) considered the appropriateness of screening all newborns for hearing loss. The USPSTF concluded that there simply was not enough research available to determine whether they should recommend for or against such screening during the baby’s hospital stay after birth.

Well, that was 2001. Times marches on, research happens. Now, a group of Oregon-based researchers has assessed the research on this practice that has occurred in the intervening years. This time, the researchers agree: Enough data are available to make a recommendation.

What do they recommend?
In a study published in the July 2008 issue of Pediatrics, a research team led by Dr. Heidi D. Nelson determined that all newborns should be screened for detection of “moderate-to-severe permanent, bilateral congenital hearing loss.”

Why?
New studies have examined speech and language outcomes of children who were screened during their post-birth hospital stay, as well as those who were not. The meta-analysis of these studies conducted by Nelson and her colleagues shows:

• Children with hearing loss that was detected as part of the newborn screening protocol “have better language outcomes at school age” than their non-tested counterparts.

• Infants identified with hearing loss through the screening receive “referral, diagnosis and treatment” sooner than those whose hearing loss is identified in other ways.

• The clinical community has recognized the importance of early intervention; the findings of this study support such an approach.

Luckily, the Joint Committee on Infant Hearing (JCIH) has developed position papers and practice guidelines for early identification, intervention and follow-up care for infants and young children. So, it should be an easy thing for hospitals and birthing centers to implement this recommendation if they aren’t already doing so.

The bottom line
It may seem like there’s a heckuva lot that the health care professionals want to do with your baby in the hours after birth. It’s true, there are—and it can be exasperating. But this procedure has merit. If your baby’s hearing is fine, the only thing you lose is a little time. If it’s not, this screening might make a big difference in your baby’s communication ability. Seems worth it to me!