California Newborn Hearing Screening Program
The California Newborn Hearing Screening Program (NHSP) helps identify hearing loss in infants and guides families to the appropriate services needed to develop communication skills. In accordance with Assembly Bill 2651, Chapter 335, Statues of 2006, participation in the NHSP is mandatory for all California hospitals and is offered for all infants born, regardless of infant’s insurance status.
To ensure early identification and intervention for hearing loss, the NHSP:
- Completes hearing screening on infants during their hospital birth admission or while receiving care in the intensive care newborn nursery.
- Tracks and monitors infants to assure that appropriate follow-up testing and diagnostic evaluations are completed.
- Provides access to medical treatment and other appropriate educational and support services.
- Provides coordinated care through collaboration with those agencies delivering early intervention services to infants and their families.
The incidence of permanent, significant hearing loss is approximately 2-4 per every 1,000 infants. It is the most common congenital condition for which there is a screening program. It is estimated that the NHSP will identify approximately 1,000 infants with hearing loss each year.
Infants who do not pass the screening in the hospital will be referred for additional testing after discharge. DHCS contracts with Hearing Coordination Centers to work with the hospitals in developing hearing screening programs, to perform quality assurance activities, and to follow infants who need additional services.
The major focus of the NHSP is to ensure that every infant who does not pass a hearing screening is linked quickly and efficiently with the appropriate services for the best possible outcome. Infants with hearing loss who have appropriate diagnosis, treatment, and early intervention services initiated before six months of age, can develop normal language and communication skills.
