CT public-health officials brief midwives on newborn hearing screening, upcoming universal cCMV testing and access challenges

Representatives from the Connecticut Department of Public Health's Early Hearing Detection and Intervention (EHDI) program on May 23 briefed the Midwifery Working Group on newborn hearing screening, congenital cytomegalovirus (cCMV) testing and resources for families and providers.

The EHDI presenters said the program follows a "1-3-6-9" model: screening by 1 month, diagnostic audiology by 3 months for babies who fail screening, enrollment in early intervention by 6 months for infants with identified hearing loss and family-based supports by 9 months. "Hearing 1 month of age, all Connecticut born infant receive new receive their newborn hearing screening," EHDI staff said.

The presentation also described a change in state practice scheduled for July 1, 2025: universal cCMV testing for newborns. John Lamb, supervisor of the EHDI program, said that beginning July 1 "testing will be seamlessas it will be done as part of already required blood spot card submission to the DPH lab." Under the current practice described in the meeting, cCMV testing is required for infants who fail a newborn hearing screen and is recommended to be performed before day 21 to help determine whether CMV infection is congenital…