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Investing in Early Hearing Intervention: The Importance of Newborn Audiology Screening

For parents awaiting the arrival of a newborn, ensuring their child's health is paramount. This commitment doesn't cease after pregnancy; critical screenings after birth can impact health outcomes. In the U.S., more than 98% of newborns are screened for hearing loss, leading to the early identification of approximately 6,000 infants with permanent hearing loss annually. Newborn screening laws exist in all 50 states and Washington, D.C., to ensure these essential tests are carried out.

Listen to our pediatric experts discuss newborn audiology screening

In this episode of Charting Pediatrics, Drs. Owen Darr and Kristin Uhler join us for a conversation on the past, present and future of newborn audiology screening, including screening guidelines and available interventions for children experiencing hearing loss.    

Dr. Darr specializes in otolaryngology at Children’s Hospital Colorado and is an assistant professor of otolaryngology at the University of Colorado (CU) School of Medicine.  

Dr. Uhler is an audiologist at Children’s Colorado and an associate professor of physical medicine and rehabilitation at the CU School of Medicine. 

In this episode, our experts discuss:

  • Why we screen newborns and what we are screening for 
  • The most common reasons for hearing loss 
  • Differences between otoacoustic emissions testing and auditory brainstem response testing
  • The accuracy and reliability of hearing tests
  • Interventions for children experiencing hearing loss  
  • Recommendations on when a child should undergo a hearing test 

Listen here or on your podcast platform of choice, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts and Google Podcasts.

Refer a patient to Children’s Colorado.