[Issues Related to Screening and Caring for Newborns With Hearing Impairments]

The critical period for auditory development in humans begins at around the 20th gestational week and continues until 3 years of age. Both genetic and environmental factors are known to cause impaired hearing. Without early identification and intervention, hearing-impaired children face a high risk of experiencing significant difficulties with speech and language development, social behavior, and emotional functioning. Two types of commonly used hearing screening technologies include transient evoked otoacoustic emission (TEOAE) and automated auditory brainstem response (aABR). aABR is considered to have high sensitivity and specificity, to have a relatively low referral rate, and to generate a relatively low rate of false-positive results in identifying newborn hearing impairment. The present paper outlines the psychosocial issues that are commonly experienced by parents of hearing-impaired children. Parents and other family members may benefit from medical, financial, social, and education supports in order to facilitate their adjustment to this challenging situation. The relevant literature is reviewed and recommendations for improving care for this population are provided.