Cabinet for Health Services
Statewide News Release
CONTACT: Michelle King, 502-595-4459

KIDS NOW: Screens Nearly 24,000 Newborns for Hearing Loss In Just Six Months

(Editors:  This is the third in a series of eight news releases on the Early Childhood Development Initiative, KIDS NOW, and how it is helping families across the state.  This week’s installment is about hearing screening for newborns.  Next week’s feature will be about immunizations.)

FRANKFORT, Ky. (Oct. 29, 2001) - Nycol and Steven Hart of Leitchfield in Grayson County had every reason to be anxious about the imminent arrival of their baby because they already knew she was in distress.  As it turned out, their newborn, Anna, wasn’t breathing when she was delivered and was deprived of oxygen for several minutes resulting in complications.  While Anna was born at Hardin Memorial Hospital, she was immediately transferred to Kosair Children’s Hospital in Louisville, where she received her first hearing screening.  

Anna was among the 23,937 newborns that have had their hearing screened before leaving the hospital from January through June of this year.

Governor Paul Patton’s Early Childhood Development Initiative, KIDS NOW, requires that every Kentucky hospital with 40 or more births a year implement the Universal Newborn Hearing Screening program.  

“The earlier we can detect hearing loss in children, the more promptly we can treat and manage the problem,” said Gov. Patton.  “Even small babies can be fitted with hearing aids.   Left undetected and untreated, hearing loss can cause serious learning difficulties for children.” 

That is exactly what happened with little Anna, who was born in December.  She was diagnosed with a moderate to severe hearing loss in both ears and was fitted with tiny hearing aids when she was only three months old. 

“If it hadn’t been for the hearing screening, we wouldn’t have known there was a problem and she wouldn’t be doing as well, said Nycol Hart.  “Thanks to the hearing screening program Anna is developmentally on target, just where she’s supposed to be.” 

She’s saying, “DA, DA” and making other sounds appropriate for an 11-month-old.  Anna also interacts with her 5-year-old brother, Jacob, and 2 1/2-year-old sister, Faith. 

There are also other benefits of early intervention such as cost savings.   Research shows that by the time a child with hearing loss graduates from high school, as much as $421,000 per child can be saved in special education costs if the hearing loss is identified and treated early. 

The cost of educating a child in a residential program for the deaf or hard of hearing is approximately $27,000 annually, while the cost of educating a child, who is diagnosed early, in an average classroom setting is $6,000 annually.

Nationally about 12,000 babies are born each year with permanent hearing loss.  That makes hearing loss the most frequently occurring birth defect. “However, this five-minute screen conducted shortly after birth can identify the children who may have problems so that diagnosis and intervention can be provided to help them develop their full potential,” said Michelle King, audiologist with the Commission on Children with Special Health Care Needs. 

But, the sweetest benefit for the Hart family is Anna’s response to their voices.  “Now, she can be across the room and you can call to her and she turns - - - you just don’t know how wonderful. We are so thankful for that screening and the technology is just amazing,” said Nycol Hart. 

To help hospitals purchase or update screening equipment, the General Assembly appropriated $300,000 to be used as matching grants. Audiology staff of the Commission for Children with Special Health Care Needs, an agency of the Cabinet for Health Services, provides training and technical assistance to hospitals.  Activities include establishment of testing protocols, data management and reporting, coordination of resources and parent networking. 

The Commission is working with the Commission on Deaf and Hard of Hearing to provide education and outreach to families, health departments, physicians, schools and other community-based organizations.  For more information regarding Universal Newborn Hearing Screening, call 1-877-757-HEAR. 

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Broadcasters: An audio feed on hearing screenings is also available. Call Mistianna Barnes with Kentucky News Network at 502-479-2243 or email her at: mistiannabarnes@clearchannel.com. 

This and other releases in this series can be obtained at the Cabinet for Health Services website at: http://chs.state.ky.us/