Up to half of infants born with hearing loss in Maryland in 2021 may be delayed in diagnosis, and the findings are likely to be mirrored across the country, says otolaryngologist Jonathan Walsh, of the Johns Hopkins Division of Pediatric Otolaryngology, who collaborated with colleagues to examine the impact the COVID-19 pandemic has had on hearing screening.

The federal Early Hearing Detection and Intervention programs aim to have all children screened by age 1 month and diagnosed by 3 months, and for hearing intervention services to be enacted by age 6 months. But access to screening was limited during the pandemic.

“Much of the impact of these [screening] delays may not be realized for several years, and special attention and resources to mitigate the impacts are important for physicians in all states,” says Walsh.