Universal Newborn Hearing Screening Program

Mission

Advances in technology now make it possible to screen babies for hearing loss soon after they are born. When babies with hearing loss are identified early, intervention can have a dramatic, positive impact on speech, language, and overall development. Because of this, the Massachusetts Legislature passed a law that mandates hearing screening for all newborns in the Commonwealth. Each birth hospital and birth center is required to have a program to ensure that every baby has his or her hearing screened before going home. Babies who do not pass or miss a hearing screening are referred to audiological diagnostic centers approved by the Department of Public Health. In Massachusetts, one of every four infants who do not pass a hearing screening will be diagnosed with a hearing loss.The Universal Newborn Hearing Screening Program helps families access services if their newborn missed or did not pass a hearing screen.

• Family Social - Saturday, June 1, 2013, Woburn  file size 3MB

Quick Links

• Follow Universal Newborn Hearing Screening updates on Facebook
• Information for Parents
  Includes information on screening, diagnosis and support and additional resources.
• Information for Providers
  Includes information on policy, laws and regulations, and additional resources.
• Program Data and Information for Researchers
• Open Meetings

This program is part of Division for Perinatal, Early Childhood, and Special Health Needs.

Past events

• Family Social - Saturday, May 11, 2013, Westfield 
• Parent Forum - Saturday, March 23, 2013  file size 2MB
• Family Social - Saturday, January 12, 2013  file size 1MB
• 2012 Parent Forum  file size 2MB
• 2011 Forum for Parents and Caregivers of Children with Hearing Loss 

Contact Information

Janet Farrell, Director
Bureau of Family Health and Nutrition
250 Washington Street
Boston, MA 02108
phone: 1-800-882-1435 or 617-624-5959
fax: 617-994-9822
TTY: 617-624-5992
email: newborn.hearing@state.ma.us

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This information is provided by the Universal Newborn Hearing Screening Program within the Department of Public Health.