Risk Factor Screening for Permanent Hearing Loss (PHL)

The NSO clinical team may notify an infant's primary care provider if one of their patients has a positive CMV or genetic risk factor screening result and ask for their assistance in disclosing the result to the family and explaining the next steps required. In our experience, there can be benefit to a family being informed of results through a familiar health care provider, and we thank you for your continued support in this regard.

• A group of rostered community pediatricians partners in Ontario are involved in the initial assessment and developmental follow-up of infants who are screen positive for congenital CMV. These pediatricians are key partners in CMV screening.
• We continue to actively recruit pediatricians that would like to participate in this program. View this infographic for more information and contact NSOHearing @cheo.on.ca if you are interested in participating. 

Submit ASQ3 scores through the Developmental Surveillance Report Form. 

CMV screen positive infants require an initial, timely medical evaluation to determine whether symptoms of congenital CMV are present. Treatment may be an option for some symptomatic infants, and referral to a pediatric infectious diseases specialist is required. 

IHP audiologists perform diagnostic audiology assessments for CMV and genetic risk factor screen positive infants. They are also involved in arranging interventions for infants found to have PHL and audiologic surveillance for those who do not. 

CMV and genetic risk factor screen positive infants who have confirmed PHL are referred to pediatric Otolaryngology for further evaluation.