Targeted Screening for Congenital Cytomegalovirus-related Hearing loss in infants in Western Australia

Aim(s): This project aims to examine the feasibility of establishing a state-wide screening program in WA to detect congenital CMV-related hearing loss in high-risk infants. The project does not aim to determine if early treatments are effective, this is outside of the scope of the study. Primary Objectives: 1. To determine the incidence of congenital CMV infection in those infants who fail their newborn hearing screen in WA 2. To monitor the clinical progression of these patients/participants over time and their patterns of hearing loss to be able to better understand the disease in WA Secondary objectives: 1. a) To identify and address potential barriers to early detection of cCMV (less than 21 days) in order to facilitate feasible (cost-effective, minimally invasive) diagnosis via a saliva swab b) To determine whether early diagnosis has the potential to make time-critical treatment possible (within 30 days). 2. If targeted testing is found to be feasible - to create and implement a protocol which forms a clinical pathway for targeted testing of infants at high-risk of cCMV in WA. Hypothesis: We hypothesise that timely targeted cCMV screening is both important and feasible to implement into WA Newborn Hearing Screening Guidelines.