SAC Position Paper: Universal Newborn Hearing Screening

Please note: A position paper or statement represents the direction SAC has taken on a particular topic or provides guidelines for particular areas of practice. These positions are time-bound, representing the thinking at a particular point in time. 

Position:

Speech-Language and Audiology Canada (SAC) supports Universal Newborn Hearing Screening (UNHS) as a strategy for identifying children with permanent childhood hearing loss (PCHL) and initiating family-centred audiological and communication intervention. In the context of this paper, it is understood that UNHS is an integral component of early hearing detection and communication development services.