Tip:
Highlight text to annotate it
X
0:00:00.000,0:00:03.066
I’m Heather Stalker and today we are going to
review the Florida Newborn Hearing Screening
program.
0:00:03.066,0:00:12.033
Florida law requires that all babies be screened
for hearing loss unless the parents object to this
screening in writing.
0:00:12.033,0:00:18.033
The statute also requires every hospital and
birthing facility provide screening for the
detection of hearing loss.
0:00:18.033,0:00:27.000
Each health care professional providing home
births must refer newborns to a licensed
audiologist for screening within 30 days.
0:00:27.000,0:00:38.066
There are two tests that can be used for the
hearing screen: the Auditory Brain Response
(ABR) and the Otoacoustic Emission (OAE).
0:00:38.066,0:00:44.000
The OAE is the most commonly used method.
0:00:44.000,0:00:51.033
In an OAE, the acoustic response is measured
by a small probe that is placed in the ear canal.
Sounds generated by this probe pass
0:00:51.033,0:00:59.033
through the tympanic membrane and then are
transmitted as fluid waves in the cochlea, as
represented by the squiggly arrow.
0:00:59.033,0:01:06.033
Tiny hair cells modulate this response and
create small reverse fluid wave transmissions
represented by the dotted arrow, which are
0:01:06.033,0:01:15.033
then emitted as a small acoustic sound that can
be measured. Successful measurement of
sound indicates that hearing is normal.
0:01:15.033,0:01:23.066
In the ABR, sound is generated and presented to
the ear as indicated by the arrow on the left.
This creates a fluid wave in the cochlea
0:01:23.066,0:01:30.066
represented by the squiggly arrow. Tiny hair
cells within the cochlea sense these fluid waves
and transmit a nerve signal to the brain
0:01:30.066,0:01:36.000
stem. Transmission of this signal can be
determined as illustrated in the boxed diagram.
0:01:36.000,0:01:42.033
For example, a clearly visible wave
V indicates adequate nerve transmission.
0:01:42.033,0:01:49.033
This baby is undergoing an OAE test. A baby
can fail the screen in one or both ears.
0:01:49.033,0:01:55.000
The screen is either performed once or twice
depending on the policies of the administering
hospital.
0:01:55.000,0:02:03.033
The hearing screening must be conducted by a
licensed audiologist, physician or appropriately
supervised trained individual.
0:02:03.033,0:02:09.033
The newborn hearing screen is performed
between a few hours after birth to 30 days after
hospital discharge.
0:02:09.033,0:02:17.000
For each baby that passes the hearing screen,
the status is recorded on the newborn screening
card and the screen is completed.
0:02:17.000,0:02:22.000
If the baby fails the screen, a rescreen can be
performed if time permits.
0:02:22.000,0:02:26.033
If they pass after the rescreen then screening is
complete.
0:02:26.033,0:02:34.033
If they fail the rescreen, they are referred to a
licensed audiologist for further evaluation within
15 working days of the failed screen.
0:02:34.033,0:02:43.000
If the audiologist confirms hearing loss, then the
baby is referred back to their primary care
physician to arrange for medical management,
0:02:43.000,0:02:49.000
treatment, and follow-up services. Any child
diagnosed with hearing loss whether through the
newborn screening program, or before the
0:02:49.000,0:02:58.000
age of 36 months who will require ongoing
hearing services, is referred to the Children’s
Medical Services Early Intervention Program.
0:02:58.000,0:03:03.066
Anyone who is not covered through insurance
and cannot afford screening will be provided with
a list of newborn hearing screening
0:03:03.066,0:03:10.000
providers who can provide the necessary testing
free of charge.
0:03:10.000,0:03:16.000
In 2012, 204,000 newborns were screened for
hearing loss.
0:03:16.000,0:03:23.066
3% of newborns screened were referred for
follow-up testing because they failed their initial
hearing screen.
0:03:23.066,0:03:32.066
169 or about 2.5% of babies who were referred
for an abnormal initial screen actually had
hearing loss in one or both ears.
0:03:32.066,0:03:37.033
This means that about 1 in 28 babies that fail
their screen will actually have confirmed hearing
loss,
0:03:37.033,0:03:45.066
and that about 1/1200 babies born in Florida
have confirmed hearing loss.
0:03:45.066
A list of resources and additional information for
parents whose child is identified as having
hearing impairment is available
on the Florida Newborn Screening website or
can be obtained by dialing the Newborn
Screening office at 850-245-4201.