Newborn hearing screening in Hawaii.

J. L. Johnson*, N. L. Kuntz, C. C. Sia, K. R. White, R. L. Johnson

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

24 Scopus citations

Abstract

Hawaii has been a pioneer and national leader in implementing universal newborn hearing screening. In fact, Hawaii is one of only two states (Rhode Island is the other) which have a statewide newborn hearing screening program in which 95% or more of all newborns are screened. Hawaii is the best example of a truly integrated system of services to provide effective intervention for all infants and toddlers who are identified as having a hearing loss. The success of the newborn hearing screening program is measurable in two ways: 1) all available information indicates that not a single infant with hearing loss has been missed by the screening process and not a single infant has been misdiagnosed as having a hearing loss; and 2) many of the children identified with hearing loss by the newborn hearing screening program have transitioned out of the early intervention program with age-appropriate developmental and communication skills. The success of Hawaii's program is a tribute to the enthusiastic support and collaboration of legislators, pediatricians, hospital staff, and DOH personnel.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)352-355
Number of pages4
JournalHawaii Medical Journal
Volume56
Issue number12
StatePublished - Dec 1997

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Medicine

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