Florida Statutes § 383.145

“Newborn and infant hearing screening under the public health law”

The Florida Legislature intended to provide a statewide comprehensive and coordinated interdisciplinary program of early hearing impairment screening, identification, and follow-up care for newborns. Each hospital or other health care facility that provides maternity and newborn care must provide screenings for the detection of hearing loss to all newborns prior to discharge. Each birth center must provide a referral to an audiologist, a physician, or a hospital for hearing loss screenings to all newborns prior to discharge. If a parent or legal guardian of the newborn objects to the screening, the screening must not be completed. Any child who is diagnosed with a permanent hearing impairment must be referred to the primary care physician for medical treatment.