The Centers for Disease Control issued a new report on March 5, 2010, that analyzed EHDI data from 1999 - 2007 to determine the status of efforts in identification of hearing loss in newborns and infants.
CDC analyzed Early Hearing Detection & Intervention (EHDI) surveillance data from 1999—2007. Data was requested from all 50 U.S. states, the District of Columbia, the Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands, although the number of respondents varied between 1999 and 2007 and some data were incomplete. However, based on this data, the report indicates:
- The percentage of infants screened for hearing loss among total births increased from 47% in 1999 to 97% in 2007.
- Those infants who failed a hearing screening but did not receive a diagnostic evaluation has decreased by 17 percentage points from 2005 (the first year the CDC collected data) to 2007, from 64% to 46%
- The number of infants identified with hearing loss increased from an estimated 1.1 per 1000 screened in 1999 to 1.2 per 1000 screened in 2007
- As of 2007, 61% of infants with hearing loss were enrolled in early intervention by 6 months of age
- The percentage of infants documented to be screened before age 1 month increased from 80% in 2005 to 85% in 2007
- The percentage of infants receiving recommended diagnostic follow-up before age 3 months increased from 54% in 2005 to 66% in 2007,
- The percentage of infants receiving early intervention who were enrolled before 6 months increased from 57% in 2005 to 61% in 2007
The authors indicate that this data analysis demonstrates progress toward achieving benchmarks for hearing screening, evaluation, and intervention and support the continued need to ensure all infants receive timely services and follow-up.
