Background

The Committee was created as a result of O.C.G.A. 31-1-3.2, which was signed into law by Governor Roy Barnes on April 13, 1999 and went into effect July 1, 2000. The Committee members are appointed by the Director of the Division of Public Health in the Georgia Department of Public Health (DCH).

Intent

It is the intent of the General Assembly that, by July 1, 2005, newborn hearing screening will be conducted on no fewer than 95 percent of all infants born in hospitals in Georgia, using procedures established by rule and regulation of the DHR Board.

By July 1, 2001, every licensed or certified hospital and physician shall educate the parents of newborn infants about the importance of screening the hearing of newborns and follow-up care.

Membership

The Committee has representatives from the State Interagency Coordinating Council for Early Intervention Programs and from the Maternal and Infant Health Council. Other members include pediatricians, audiologists, a hospital administrator, adults who are deaf or hearing impaired, parents with children who are deaf or hearing impaired, and a member from both the Senate and the House of Representatives.

Purpose

The Committee was established to collect, study, and report data. They also provide recommendations to hospitals, other health care institutions, physicians, the Georgia Department of Public Health, and the public concerning:/p>

• Appropriate methodologies to be implemented for hearing screening of newborn infants;
• The number of births sufficient to qualify a hospital or health institution to arrange for hearing screening outside the facility; and
• Guidelines for reporting and for ensuring that identified children receive referrals for appropriate intervention services.

The Committee will report its findings and recommendations to the DHR Board which shall take them under consideration when adopting rules and regulations related to newborn hearing screening.

Reporting

• Hospitals report quarterly to DHR regarding the:
  1. number of newborn infants born in the hospital;
  2. number of newborn infants screened;
  3. number of newborn infants who passed the screening; and
  4. number of newborn infants who did not pass the screening.

Technical Assistance

• If the number of newborn infants screened falls below 95 percent at any time the Advisory Committee will continue to work with hospitals and physicians to achieve the desired goal.
• The Committee advises hospitals and physicians regarding conditions and procedures under which a parent may object to and thereby exempt their child from hearing screening for religious reasons.

Other Activities

• Physicians, registered nurses, certified nurse midwives, or other health professionals who attend a birth outside a hospital or institution are required to provide information to parents, as established by the DHR Board, regarding the importance of infant hearing screening and locations where screening can be done.
• DHR will encourage the cooperation of local health departments, health care clinics, school districts, health care providers, and other appropriate resources to promote newborn hearing screening, the early identification of hearing loss, and intervention for those infants identified as hearing impaired.