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

For parents expecting a newborn, their top priority is bringing a healthy baby into this world. But it's not just their responsibility while their baby is in the womb. As newborns, important screenings are changing health outcomes. Over 98% of U.S. newborns are screened for hearing loss and about 6,000 U.S. infants born are identified early with a permanent hearing loss. In all 50 states and Washington D.C., there are newborn screening laws to make sure these tests happen. Experts say they are crucial to keep at the forefront of newborn care. It's doctors like Owen Darr, MD, whose passion is helping these kids live the best life possible. "Working with families, helping them through a difficult time, finding interventions –– sometimes small, sometimes big –– that can really make a positive impact on a child's life," Dr. Darr says.

In today's episode, we are joined by Dr. Darr and Kristin Uhler, PhD. Dr. Darr specializes in otolaryngology at Children's Hospital Colorado. He is also an assistant professor of otolaryngology, head and neck surgery. Dr. Uhler is an audiologist at Children's Colorado, as well as an associate professor of physical medicine and rehabilitation. Dr. Uhler explains that 1998 was the year experts provided the efficacy for newborn screening. "Where they realized if you screen a baby by 1 month of age, you then rescreen them at and diagnose them with either hearing loss or normal hearing by 3 months of age, and then enroll them in early intervention by 6 months of age, that they have language on par with their typical hearing peers by preschool," Dr. Uhler Says.

Some highlights from this episode include:

• Why we screen newborns and what we are screening for
• Sensitivity and specificity of the hearing test
• Intervention options to help children with hearing loss
• When physicians should refer kids for a hearing test

Today's episode is underwritten by the Daniels Fund, in recognition of their longstanding commitment to the Bill Daniels Center for Children's Hearing at Children's Hospital Colorado. Cable television pioneer Bill Daniels suffered hearing loss traced to his service as a decorated fighter pilot in World War II. His experience formed a strong catalyst for the Daniels Fund's gifts to support Children's Colorado, since 2005. Thank you to the Daniels Fund for continued investment in Children's Colorado to help children who are deaf or hard-of-hearing receive the care that they need to grow into healthy and dynamic citizens.

For more information on Children's Colorado, visit: childrenscolorado.org