Final answer:
Newborns are screened for hearing using tests like otoacoustic emissions or auditory brainstem response to detect potential hearing issues at birth.
Step-by-step explanation:
Infants are screened for hearing at birth by conducting a hearing test using either otoacoustic emissions or auditory brainstem response. These tests are non-invasive and can detect potential hearing issues that may not be evident through behavior alone at this early stage. Otoacoustic emissions involve playing sounds into the baby's ear and measuring the echo that comes back, while auditory brainstem response assesses how the brain's hearing nerve responds to sounds.