Ok, I have to chime in here about the newborn hearing screens.  In my former
role as a clinical specialist, I had interviewed the companies to assist with
making a clinically competent choice in the type of machinery purchased and
then I had to participate in the training of the nursing staff to perform the
testings.
Again, there are research articles portraying the outcomes of these testings,
but I probably don't have them any longer.  I recall that it is not optimal
to conduct the testings soon after birth as it leads to many false positive
results due to the fluid accumulation in the ear canals.  I had trained the
staff to inform parents of such when a baby didn't pass the test.  The best
time to get the best results is when a baby is calm such as in either a
drowsy or sleeping state.  Sucking on Dad's finger in a calm state can work
very well.  But, when staff tell parents that they can't do this as it
interferes with the testing, it's the movement of a vigorous suck that does
create interference, and then the staff have to redo the test.  Optimal
outcome for the results of the screenings is waiting until the birth fluid is
gone, and then bringing babies back for screenings, and/or conducting them in
the baby's doctor offices.  But, we experienced the resistance as you can
imagine when we suggested this process.....we can't even get docs to see
babies soon enough after birth, right?  And the logistics of bringing babies
back after discharge is too difficult on the parents it was felt, and there
is no place to conduct the testings....lack of space.  So, this is why
they're done during the hospital stay.  Yes, many false findings are thus the
result, causing undue stress for parents if not adequately prepared, and also
possibly unfounded charges/costs.  The extensive testing by an audiologist is
to be conducted if 2 of these newborn screenings are not passed.  Hope some
of this helps!
Carol Chamblin, RN, MS, IBCLC
Breast 'N Baby Lactation Services, Inc.
St. Charles, IL

             ***********************************************

To temporarily stop your subscription: set lactnet nomail
To start it again: set lactnet mail (or digest)
To unsubscribe: unsubscribe lactnet
All commands go to [log in to unmask]

The LACTNET mailing list is powered by L-Soft's renowned
LISTSERV(R) list management software together with L-Soft's LSMTP(TM)
mailer for lightning fast mail delivery. For more information, go to:
http://www.lsoft.com/LISTSERV-powered.html