Newborn Hearing Screening - Sidelines National Support Network

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Newborn Hearing Screens Give Babies a Smart Head Start
Hearing impairment can easily be overlooked because infants and toddlers cannot tell us they are unable to hear. Hearing loss is the most common birth defect, occurring in three out of every 1,000 babies born today. Since babies learn to speak by listening, the child who is unable to hear normally will have difficulty developing speech and language skills. The most critical years for speech and language development are from birth to three years of age. Early detection of hearing loss will enable you to obtain the special attention your child will need for language development as well as social, emotional and academic development.

Which organizations are supportive of universal screens?
The importance of early identification of hearing loss is also recognized by the National Institutes of Health, Joint Committee on Infant Hearing, American Academy of Pediatrics, American Academy of Otolaryngology, American Academy of Audiology and the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. These organizations recommend universal hearing screens for newborns.

Newborn-screening mandates vary from state to state, within 38 states. For more information about state-mandates for Newborn Hearing Screens, visit our website at Alexander Graham Bell Association for Deaf and Hard of Hearing
World's oldest and largest membership organization promoting the use of spoken language by children and adults with hearing loss.

American Academy of Pediatrics
Information comes from the nation's leading children's health experts and has scientific research support.

American Society for Deaf Children
An organization of parents and families that advocates for deaf or hard-of-hearing children's total quality participation in education, the family and the community.

American Speech-Language-Hearing Association
An association working to ensure that all people with speech, language, and hearing disorders have access to quality services to help them communicate more effectively.

Better Hearing Institute
Educational information for the public and healthcare workers.

Boys Town National Research Hospital
Leading physicians and clinicians collaborate to provide state-of-the-art diagnosis and treatment for children with hearing loss so they may communicate in the world around them.

Centers for Disease Control
New online section for Professionals and Parents is intended to help you find the information you want about infant hearing loss and Early Hearing Detection and Intervention (EHDI) programs.

Deafness Research Foundation
Research news and opportunities, advocacy and public education materials updates.

Ear Foundation
The EAR Foundation exists for three basic purposes:
1) To provide the general public support services promoting the integration of the hearing and balance impaired into mainstream society.
2) To provide practicing ear specialists continuing medical education courses and related programs specifically regarding rehabilitation and hearing preservation.
3) To educate young people and adults about hearing preservation and early detection of hearing loss, enabling them to prevent at an early age hearing and balance disorders.

Hearing Health Magazine
HH online edition, newsflashes, current features and article archives.