All newborn infants should be screened for congenital hearing loss that is present at birth, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force has recommended. The task force gave screening a B recommendation, meaning that, “there is moderate certainty that the net benefit is moderate to substantial.” Congenital hearing loss occurs in approximately 1-3 infants/1,000; infants at high risk include those who have spent more than 2 days in a neonatal ICU, those diagnosed with certain syndromes, and those with a family history of childhood hearing loss, according to the task force. However, half of infants with hearing loss have no identifiable risk factors. 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 who have normal hearing, according to the task force. “Screening at birth allows for hearing loss to be detected early and is associated with better outcomes for infants who test positive,” said Dr. Ned Calonge, task force chairman.
PREVIEW