DHSS Press Release

BIRTH DEFECTS REGISTRY AND NEWBORN HEARING PROGRAM ESTABLISHED

Maureen E. Dempsey, M.D., Director of Delaware's Division of Public Health (DPH), announced Wednesday that DPH will collect data on nearly 100 birth defects, including abnormal hearing screens. The new Birth Defects Registry was implemented as the result of state regulations published March 10, 2002.

Nationally, birth defects cause one in five deaths among infants less than a year old. In Delaware, birth defects are the second leading cause of infant death after perinatal conditions, which include premature birth and low birth weight. Between 1996-2000, 98 infants were diagnosed with birth defects in Delaware, and 66 infants with birth defects died.

Delaware's Birth Defects Registry will enable DPH to collect data, track individual children, investigate the prevalence of birth defects, assist with identification of environmental and hereditary risk factors, and follow abnormal newborn hearing screening results. The registry will collect information on any birth defect diagnosed during pregnancy and following birth to age 5.

Dempsey also announced the establishment of a statewide Newborn Hearing Screening Program in DPH, which will meet the birth defect registry's requirements to track hearing deficits among newborns. Nationally, one of every 100 newborns is referred for additional hearing screening, and three of every 1,000 newborns are diagnosed with hearing impairment. Among Delaware's 10,500 annual births, nearly 300 children may be diagnosed with a hearing impairment each year.

The Newborn Hearing Screening Program is funded by a $195,000 grant from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to ensure that all birthing sites, including the Birth Center and Amish midwives, have equipment and software to screen newborns and record results. Results will be linked with DPH's Newborn Hearing Screening Program office. Abnormal screenings will be followed to link additional screening, diagnostic testing, early intervention services and resources to the child.

Early identification is vital to preventing delays in language development and learning. The average age when hearing loss is identified in American children is between 20-24 months. Mild and moderate hearing losses are identified even later, at 4 years of age. This can result in severe language delays and emotional distress for the child and family. Hard of hearing and deaf infants who receive intervention before six months of age maintain language development in keeping with their cognitive abilities though the age of 5.

For three years, the seven hospitals that deliver babies in Delaware have voluntarily screened newborns for hearing deficits. The newborn screening program will be fully implemented by the end of April 2003. There is no cost for screening.

Educational materials describing the newborn hearing screening program are available in both English and Spanish by calling 1-800-262-3030.

Delaware Health and Social Services is committed to improving the quality of the lives of Delaware's citizens by promoting health and well-being, fostering self-sufficiency, and protecting vulnerable populations.