NSW (New South Wales) first for deafness screening in new-borns:
This article was originally published in Clinica
Executive Summary
The New South Wales government has pledged to screen all new-borns for deafness in a project aimed at determining the link between deafness and brain development. Early diagnosis of hearing impediments has a significant effect on later speaking and hearing abilities. Mandatory screening could enormously benefit the development of the 400 babies born with hearing difficulties every year in NSW, says state health minister Craig Knowles. The project, hailed as a national first, is to be launched in December 2002.