Parents
Healthcare
Providers
What is the.... Newborn Screening Program?
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 Our
tests could save your baby’s life.
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We test all Arizona
babies and help those who have certain rare, inherited diseases or hearing
loss.
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Most babies are healthy
when they are born. A few babies look healthy but have a rare health
problem.
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If the problem is
found early, we can help prevent serious results like mental retardation or
death.
Arizona babies are
tested for 29 disorders including hearing loss.
Arizona's
panel of 29 disorders represents those recommended
nationally by the March of Dimes, American Academy of Pediatrics, and the
American College of Medical Genetics.
The Arizona screening panel includes:
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6 amino acid disorders
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5 fatty acid oxidation disorders
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9 organic acid disorders
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Biotinidase deficiency
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Classic galactosemia
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Congenital hypothyroidism
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Congenital adrenal hyperplasia
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3 hemoglobin diseases
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Cystic
Fibrosis
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Hearing
Loss
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For the complete
list of disorders [PDF 24K].
View a presentation that describes
newborn hearing screening in Arizona [PDF 370K].
View Larger Map
Why screening is
needed:
 Every
baby born in Arizona is screened for certain inherited disorders within the
first weeks of life. A newborn may appear healthy, but still have a serious
disease that cannot be seen. If left untreated, these diseases can lead to
slow growth, blindness, mental retardation, and possibly death. Early
detection and treatment can help prevent these serious problems. With the
addition of the new diseases for testing, over 100 babies in Arizona found
to have a serious disease will be helped every year.
Significant hearing loss is present in 1 to 3 out of every 1,000 newborn
infants. It is important that babies with a hearing loss be identified and
given appropriate treatment and intervention within the first six months of
life. The first six months of life is a critical period for developing
communication and language skills. New research shows babies with hearing
loss and appropriate early intervention are much more likely to speak and
understand language well. Good language skills improve a child’s abilities
in many areas of life such as reading, learning, and social interaction.
Goals of the
screening program:
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To identify newborns with certain rare, inherited diseases or hearing loss
and help get them needed treatment.
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To identify possible hearing loss before one month of age and link families
with appropriate assessment and intervention.
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To ensure that all newborns referred for a follow-up hearing screen prior to
discharge return for an outpatient screen and receive appropriate assessment by
three months of age and intervention by six months of age.
Newborn
screening does not diagnose a baby with a disorder. Results can increase the
likelihood of a baby having a real disease. However, there are cases when
results are positive but a baby is completely healthy. Such cases are called
false positive. We strive to have an accurate system that detects real disease
and minimizes the false positive results. Also, newborn screening does not
guarantee to find every true case of disease.
What the
program has achieved:
The
Arizona panel includes the 27 disorders and hearing loss that are
recommended by
the March of Dimes, American Academy of Pediatrics, and American College of
Medical Geneticists.
In 2005, 83 babies were identified to have serious, treatable medical
conditions. All these babies were helped to get the treatments needed.
All Arizona birthing hospitals offer Universal Newborn Hearing Screening.
Results are sent to the Newborn Screening Program, where we will provide follow
up assistance to families of babies with possible hearing loss.
Fact
Sheet:
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