Findings from the state’s mandated CMV screening program demonstrate a decreased age at first audiology visit and increased detection of mild hearing loss in infants.
A retrospective cohort study on Minnesota’s mandated universal newborn screening for congenital cytomegalovirus (cCMV) shows the program significantly decreased the age at the initial audiology visit and increased the identification of mild hearing loss in infants. The findings were published in Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery, the journal of the American Academy of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery Foundation (AAO-HNSF).
Congenital cytomegalovirus is the leading non-genetic cause of hearing loss in infants, affecting approximately 1 in 200 newborns. Because CMV-related hearing loss can be progressive and the therapeutic window for antiviral treatment is most effective within the first month of life, early identification through screening is essential for timely intervention.
“Our experience in Minnesota shows that universal screening for cCMV enhances our ability to catch mild hearing loss early on in life and has the potential to improve the life of children who are diagnosed with the disease,” says Andrew J Redmann, MD, assistant professor in the department of otolaryngology–head and neck surgery at the University of Minnesota Medical School and Children’s Minnesota, in a release. “Our hope is that our experience in Minnesota will guide policymakers in other states as we continue to learn more about cCMV and the best way to screen for and treat this common condition.”
The study examined 132 patients diagnosed with cCMV at Children’s Minnesota between 2021 and 2024, comparing outcomes before, during, and after the implementation of universal screening.
National Advocacy and Legislative Initiatives
The study’s findings align with the AAO-HNS’s legislative priorities to advance cCMV screening at federal and state levels.
“The evidence from Minnesota’s program—and from studies across the country—overwhelmingly supports universal screening,” says Rahul K Shah, MD, MBA, AAO-HNS/F executive vice president and CEO, in a release. “As the physicians who specialize in the diagnosis and treatment of hearing health conditions, we know that early identification through screening is essential to timely intervention and to the long-term developmental success of children.”
At the federal level, the Stop CMV Act (HR 5435/S 2842) was reintroduced in the 119th Congress. The legislation would authorize federal funding for cCMV screening programs aimed at improving early detection and intervention of hearing loss in infants.
Several states are also advancing cCMV screening legislation. The AAO-HNS has supported bills in New York, Vermont, and Massachusetts that would establish universal screening. In Oregon, the organization provided testimony on the implementation of the state’s targeted screening program. Other states, including Michigan and Illinois, are expected to consider similar proposals.
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