CMN Funds Provide Newborn Hearing Screener for Horn Memorial

June 10, 2011

Horn Memorial Hospital (HMH) and several area businesses are partners with St. Luke's Children's Miracle Network (CMN) in helping raise funds for ill and injured children in our local communities. One-half of all CMN funds raised in Ida County each year are returned directly to HMH. This year HMH received $3,134 to enhance pediatric healthcare in our community. These funds were used to purchase an updated newborn hearing screener.

As of 2004, newborn hearing screens are mandated by the State of Iowa. All babies born at HMH are screened for hearing loss and the results of the screen and diagnostic evaluations are submitted to the Iowa Department of Public Health within six days of the child's birth.

Each year, approximately 12,000 babies are born in the Unites States with permanent hearing loss. With two to three of every 1,000 newborns having a hearing loss, it is the most frequently occurring birth defect. Screening and assessment are very important, even for families who have no history of hearing problems. In fact, most babies born with hearing loss are born to parents with normal hearing. If identification does not happen until after six months of age, the child's language skills at age three will be far behind those of a child with normal hearing. Families can look to physicians, audiologists, and other healthcare providers to learn more about hearing screening assessment, intervention and resources available for their child and family.

Thanks to the support from the communities we serve, HMH has been able to purchase several pieces of pediatric equipment over the years from the funds raised through CMN. Your support is greatly appreciated.