Newborn Hearing Screening
Each year in Washington state approximately 233 babies are born with hearing loss. With an incidence of approximately 3 in 1,000 births, hearing loss is the most frequently occurring birth defect.
The first two years of life are the most critical for learning speech and language, and an unidentified hearing loss can severely impact a child’s ability to learn these important skills.
Over 50% of babies born with hearing loss have no known risk factors for hearing loss, and 90% of babies with hearing loss are born to normal hearing parents.
Therefore, it is important to screen all newborns for hearing loss through Universal Newborn Hearing Screening programs.
Seattle Children’s is working in partnership with the Washington State Department of Health and the Washington Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics to implement comprehensive Universal Newborn Hearing Screening programs across Washington.
Our goal is to screen ALL newborns born in our state for hearing loss.
General Newborn Hearing Screening Information
Information for Professionals