Slide Presentation from the AHRQ 2007 Annual Conference

Why is early identification of hearing loss Important?

Screen shot of the Web page whose text is shown below:

Why is early identification of hearing loss Important?

• Hearing loss occurs more frequently than any other birth disorder.
• Undetected hearing loss has serious negative consequences.
• Benefits are dramatic when associated with early identification.

Universal Newborn Hearing Screening

According to the National Center for Hearing Assessment and Management, every day, 33 babies ( or 12,000 each year are born in the United States with permanent hearing loss. With 3 out of every 1,000 newborns having a hearing loss, it is the most frequently occurring birth defect. For the NCHAM fact sheet go to: http://infanthearing.org/resources/fact.pdf