Establishing a Universal Newborn Hearing Screening Program

Embracing the goal of screening every newborn to ensure the opportunity for early hearing loss detection and intervention represents a significant change in hearing healthcare rather than simply the addition of a clinical procedure to a hospital nursery protocol. Where to begin and how to ensure that the implementation process results in an effective, efficient, and sustainable program are topics addressed in this educational session. The steps outlined are a practical guide to personnel, practices, and policies to support better outcomes for newborns with hearing impairment and their families derived from decades of personal experience and worldwide participation in developing newborn hearing screening programs.