Section 6Sec./Art. 6

Obligation to Perform Newborn Hearing Loss Screening and Audiologic Diagnostic Evaluation. - All infants born in hospitals in the Philippines shall be made to undergo newborn hearing loss screening before discharge, unless the parents or legal guardians of the newborn object to the screening subject to Section 7 of this Act. Infants who are not born in hospitals should be screened within the first three (3) months after birth.

In the event of a positive newborn hearing loss screening result, the newborn shall undergo audiologic diagnostic evaluation in a timely manner to allow appropriate follow-up, recall and referral for intervention before the age of six (6) months: Provided, That audiologic diagnostic evaluation shall be performed by Newborn Hearing Screening Centers duly certified by the DOH.

It shall be the joint responsibility of the parents or legal guardian, and the healthcare practitioner to ensure that hearing screening is performed. An appropriate informational brochure on the role and duties of parents and guardians is fulfilling this responsibility shall be made available by the DOH and shall be distributed to all health institutions and made available to any healhcare practitioner requesting it for appropriate distribution.

In case the newborn is born at home or anywhere outside birthing facilities, the attending health care practitioner shall refer the newborn to the municipal or city heath center of the barangay having jurisdiction over the area for newborn hearing loss screening and audiologic diagnostic evaluation.