The status of state-wide policies for neonatal hearing screening.

During the process of establishing follow-up procedures for our neonatal hearing program, we became interested in the current status of screening programs nationwide. Fifty states and the District of Columbia were surveyed to determine the extent and content of legislatively mandated neonatal hearing screening programs. Fourteen states have legislative mandates for screening and, at this point, approximately 50 percent of the states have no state-wide policy regarding neonatal hearing screening. Among the various state-wide protocols two basic approaches emerged: (1) the high-risk register and (2) in-hospital screening. In addition, information was obtained on screening methods, the level of program implementation, and some of the pros and cons for mandating neonatal hearing screening.