Reasons for Rescreening:
Once Normal Does Not Mean Always Normal.
Fall 1997

Passing a hearing screening in early infancy does not, of course, mean that a child will always have normal hearing. An infant or child should be periodically rescreened if any of the indicators below are present:

1. The child's mother had an in utero infection such as cytomegalovirus, rubella, syphilis, herpes, or toxoplasmosis.
   
2. The child has a family history of hereditary hearing loss during childhood.
   
3. A parent or caregiver expresses concern about the child's hearing, speech, language, or delayed development.
   
4. A child has a history of:
   • Anatomic deformities or other conditions that can affect Eustachian tube function.
   • Bacterial meningitis or other infections associated with hearing loss.
   • Head trauma.
   • Neurofibromatosis Type II or other neurodegenerative disorders.
   • Otitis media with effusion.
   • A syndrome whose symptoms include hearing loss.
     
     
5. A child has been given ototoxic medications, including but not limited to chemotherapeutic agents or aminoglycosides used in multiple courses or in combination with loop diuretics.

EPSDT guidelines call for periodic hearing screenings throughout childhood; these guidelines reflect our realization that the earlier a hearing impairment is discovered and intervention is begun, the more dramatic the benefits.