Hearing Loss in the Newborn Infant: Early Hearing Detection and Intervention

Abstract

Significant advances in health care have occurred since the 1980s and currently more than 97% of newborns in the United States undergo hearing screening, resulting in earlier identification, intervention, and improved outcomes. (1) Current technology, however, does not identify all hearing loss including mild, late onset, and progressive hearing loss. Therefore, although the rate of hearing loss at birth is approximately 1 to 2 per 1,000, it approaches 5 per 1,000 by early school age. This supports the need for continued surveillance of language milestones and hearing skills in the medical home. Types of permanent hearing loss include sensorineural, conductive, and auditory neuropathy, which occurs most commonly in NICU graduates. Multidisciplinary care is needed to ensure early access to language. Both early intervention and early amplification, no later than 6 months of age, are critical components of the formula for success.