The Status of Diagnostic Testing following Referral from Universal Newborn Hearing Screening

Abstract

The Joint Committee on Infant Hearing 2000 position statement includes guidelines for the development of Early Hearing Detection and Intervention programs. These guidelines provide specific recommendations for the audiologic test battery for infants who fail a newborn infant hearing screening. The recommended test battery includes electrophysiologic measures such as the ABR, frequency specific electrophysiologic tests, bone-conducted ABR, OAEs, tympanometry using high frequency probe stimuli, and acoustic reflexes. In the Commonwealth of Kentucky, 42 centers are listed as providing follow-up diagnostic testing services for infants failing the newborn hearing screening. The purpose of this investigation was to determine how many of these centers were abiding by the Joint Committee guidelines. Results show that only three of 42 centers listed are providing services that meet the guidelines. Less than 50% of infants identified with hearing loss are referred for genetic evaluations by the audiologist. Only 19 of the 42 sites listed provide amplification services for infants identified with hearing loss.