Additional Hearing Screenings in Pediatrics: Does Earlier, More Consistent Screening Make a Difference?

Abstract

Phoenix Children’s Hospital has implemented a program, following the guidelines set by the Ear Foundation, to do annual hearing screenings from birth to school age. This is in contrast to the recommendations by Bright Futures, which state that screening should be done at birth and then annually after the child has begun kindergarten. This study may help determine the incidence of failed hearing screenings and frequency with which failed screenings translate to an intervention, as well as drive clinical decisions on the frequency/number of screenings at well-child checks.