As part of a national campaign to improve early identification of hearing loss in children, on Monday, October 4, 2010 CASLPA held a press conference to launch its new position paper on Universal Newborn Hearing Screening (UNHS).

Approximately three to five per 1,000 babies born each year in Canada have some degree of hearing loss. Historically, only babies with high-risk factors have been screened for permanent childhood hearing loss. UNHS programs use an inexpensive and non-invasive test that can quickly and accurately screen for hearing loss in newborns. 

UNHS is increasingly becoming the standard of care in many developed countries, including the United States, where 95 per cent of newborns are screened with UNHS programs. Ontario and New Brunswick were the first provinces to introduce mandated UNHS in Canada in 2002. Despite an increase in UNHS programs since then, they remain non-existent in many areas of Canada. This is cause for significant concern. All children in Canada should be entitled to equal access to newborn hearing screening which could ultimately have a significant and positive effect on their lives.

CASLPA UNHS position paper

Issue paper - The Value of Early Identification of Communication and Hearing Disorders in Children

Press release

Video footage of press conference

Speaking notes from October 5 budget submission presentation to Standing Committee on Finance

Studies/Links

• ACSLPA Endorsement of UNHS in Alberta
• Joint Committee on Infant Hearing Position Statement
• Canadian Working Group on Childhood Hearing
• Marion Downs Hearing Centre Foundation (Publications on Universal Newborn Hearing Screening, Early Identification, Early Intervention and Developmental Outcomes)
• Can Your Baby Hear? Youtube videos on newborn hearing screening 
• Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) article on UNHS

Media Coverage

• Globe and Mail
• Toronto Sun
• CBC
• CFRA
• Canada.com

Join our Facebook group Supporters of Universal Newborn Hearing Screening (UNHS) in Canada.