Importance
Children with hearing loss have increased difficulties with verbal and nonverbal communication skills, increased behavioral problems, decreased psychosocial well-being, and lower educational attainment compared with children with normal hearing.
Detection
Because half of the children with hearing loss have no identifiable risk factors, universal screening (instead of targeted screening) has been proposed to detect children with permanent congenital hearing loss (PCHL). There is good evidence that newborn hearing screening testing is highly accurate and leads to earlier identification and treatment of infants with hearing loss.
Benefits of Detection and Early Treatment
Good-quality evidence shows that early detection improves language outcomes.
Harms of Detection and Early Treatment
There is limited evidence about the harms of screening, with conflicting research findings regarding anxiety associated with false-positive test results. There is limited information about the harms of treatment. Complications of cochlear implant surgery include increased risk of meningitis; however, the overall risks of complications of screening and treatment are estimated to be small.
USPSTF Assessment
The USPSTF concludes that there is moderate certainty that the net benefit of screening all newborn infants for hearing loss is moderate.
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(Teníamos razón ;-)
