Feasibility and effectiveness of a population-based newborn hearing screening in an economically deprived region of Italy.

Aim: To describe the effectiveness of a population-based newborn hearing screening program in an economically deprived region of southern Italy.

Methods: A screening protocol was proposed for all newborns of the Campania region, starting on January, 2007. For infants identified with hearing loss, information on degree and type of hearing loss and presence of risk factors was collected.