Evidence for hearing screens found lacking:

There is insufficient evidence to recommend for or against routinely screening newborns for hearing loss. This is the finding of the US Preventative Services Task Force (USPSTF), a panel of independent, private-sector experts in preventative and primary care. The USPSTF reached its conclusion based on a report by the Evidence-based Practice Center at Oregon Health and Science University. The panel says that there good evidence that universal screening leads to earlier identification and treatment of infants with hearing loss. However, research to determine whether earlier treatment resulting from screening leads to long-term improvements in language skills have so far been inconclusive.