Newborn hearing screening. An assessment of knowledge, attitudes, and practice among Minnesota physicians.

Hearing loss is one of the most common birth defects. Without proper early screening, it may go undetected until a child demonstrates significant and sometimes irreversible communication delays. The Minnesota Department of Health in collaboration with 2 national organizations conducted a survey of Minnesota physicians regarding their awareness of its Early Hearing Detection and Intervention (EHDI) program. Results indicate that the majority (133/150 or 89%) of respondents were aware of the program and understood that early screening was "very important". Although many physicians (82/151 or 54%) reported feeling "very confident" about their ability to explain the hearing screening process to parents, only 21% indicated that their training prepared them to meet the needs of infants with hearing loss. Survey respondents reported "a great need" for protocols for follow-up after a problematic screening (94/148 or 64%), information about early intervention options (86/147 or 59%), a contact for more information (89/147 or 61%), and parent education resources (86/147 or 59%). These findings will be used to develop materials and resources to broaden physicians' knowledge and understanding of the state's EHDI program.