ECDC Finalised at the European Consensus Development Conference on Neonatal Hearing Screening 15-16 May 1998, Milan 1.
Intervention is believed to be most successful if commenced in the first few months of life.
Therefore, identification by screening at or shortly after birth has the potential to improve quality of life and opportunities for those affected. Effective programmes of intervention are well established. Methods for identification of PCHI in the neonatal stage are now accepted clinical practice. Neonatal testing in maternity hospitals is more effective and less expensive than behavioural screening conventionally carried out at 7-9 months. Targeted neonatal hearing screening in parallel with 7-9 month behavioural testing is more expensive and less effective than universal neonatal screening.