Oregon Public Broadcasting

A panel of national experts has recommended all newborns in the U.S. be screened immediately for hearing loss.

That puts Oregon on the leading edge of the issue. Eight years ago the state passed one of the first laws to require hospitals provide hearing tests for newborns.

The new recommendation, by a U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, found proof that an early diagnosis can help treat hearing loss. That could possibly save states, hospitals, and health insurers money in the long run.

Heidi Nelson is a professor at Oregon Health and Science University. She helped collect the evidence that was presented to the independent panel of experts.

Heidi Nelson: “It's like not tomorrow every place is going to be doing this. But it does really underscore the importance of it. Usually it becomes a measure of performance for hospitals and doctors. Often it changes how things are funded, so we'll only know a little later what the impact is.”

Today, thirty-nine states have some sort of legislation regarding hearing in newborns. But all the laws are not as strict or as universal as Oregon's.