In 1999, 8,000 copies of this 36-page booklet, supported by MCHB's Division of Services for Children with Special Health Needs, were printed. The implementation guide is the culmination of more than a decade of pioneering work in universal newborn hearing screening in hospitals nationwide. It is organized into areas needed to be considered in setting up this type of program, such as determining protocol in the participating hospital; choosing equipment; training; financing; managing data; and talking to parents, physicians, and hospital staff.

"The guide, along with its wealth of appendices, is an excellent resource for anyone starting or operating a hospital newborn hearing screening program," said Larry Dalzell, audiologist with Strong Memorial Hospital in Rochester, N.Y.

Patti Martin, M.S., CCC-A, director of audiology and speech pathology at Arkansas Children's Hospital, said, "The guide has been invaluable to hospitals in our state as we implement newborn hearing screening programs. It is wonderful to have this tried and true tool available as we continue the process of implementing UNHS."

In March of this year, HRSA further supported newborn hearing screening by giving 22 states grants totaling $3 million.

Today about 35 percent of newborns are being screened for hearing loss before discharge. Hundreds of hospitals operate screening programs. There are four practical and cost-effective technologies used that are described in the manual.

MCHB-supported programs are closely linked to diagnosis in medical homes, networks of care including pediatric health professionals in partnership with families and communities. Diagnosis is recommended by 3 months of age, intervention by 6 months, with families helping other families.