WV BIRTH SCORE

The primary objectives of the Newborn Hearing Screen are to:

1. Assure early identification of infants who may have a hearing loss or
   impairment,
2. activate a system of intervention for those infants who have experienced a
   hearing loss or impairment, and maintain an information management system
   that tracks the infants who are at-risk for loss/impairment and who are referred
   for diagnostic testing which is coordinated with and by the infant’s primary care
   provider.

A newborn’s risk status is determined by Evolved Otoacoustic Emission (OAE) testing or Automated Auditory Brain Stem Response (ABR) testing performed on the infant following birth. The outcome of this testing is recorded as “Pass” or “Fail”. A “Fail” response identifies an infant who is at potential risk for permanent hearing loss or impairment.

When it is determined that an infant is at risk, the parents are informed and a Hearing Screen referral is made to the infant’s primary pediatric provider. The infant is also referred to West Virginia Newborn Hearing Screen Program for tracking and follow-up.