PEDIATRICS Vol. 106 No. 3 September 2000, pp. 616-618
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To the Editor.
Dr Paradise's commentary appearing in the March 1999 issue of Pediatrics raises to my mind 2 questions regarding universal neonatal hearing screening: Is this an appropriate time to institute universal neonatal screening? Would it be more appropriate instead to institute a 2-step screening process consisting of a high-risk questionnaire followed up with neonatal screening when indicated?1
In general, decisions regarding the selection of screening techniques
have largely been made by the test developers or specialty groups, such
as the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, and the rationale
for their decisions is often unknown. However, since society is either
benefiting from the test or paying the costs of errors, decisions
regarding the use of the screening tests should reflect the values of
society. This point is of particular significance, as some states have
already mandated universal neonatal hearing