This overview of screening programs routinely delivered to newborns in modern hospitals will be useful for university students, clinicians, researchers, and policymakers. Clinicians and researchers in multiple disciplines examine recent technological advancements in the field, look at shortcomings of existing programs, and suggest directions for improvement. The first section, on general considerations, details the history and principles of newborn screening, offers economic and ethical perspectives, and reviews diseases and disorders of newborns. The second section describes current and future newborn screening systems, including hearing screening and dried bloodspot screening for genetic testing. The third section discusses genetic counseling, communication with parents, and information management systems for newborn screening. B&w photos and an extensive glossary are included. Driscoll teaches in the School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences at the University of Queensland, Australia. McPherson directs the Center for Communication Disorders at the University of Hong Kong. Annotation ©2010 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)