The first of the universal hearing screening pilot sites started in Nottingham Health Authority and Redbridge and Waltham Forest Health Authority last month. Another 18 sites will begin in the next few months.
It is hoped that children tested in the pilot projects will benefit from having any hearing impairments identified quickly and accurately. Evidence shows that early intervention improves children's learning ability for the rest of their lives.
Meanwhile, screening for the inherited disease cystic fibrosis in all newborn babies is currently in the planning stage and will be introduced next year as part of Government initiatives to modernise neonatal and antenatal testing, introduce national screening standards and make services available to all new mothers and pregnant women.
The development of universal screening will mean significant benefits for diagnosis, treatment and quality of life for children with cystic fibrosis.
Public health minister Yvette Cooper said, 'It is important that every parent gets proper information about health checks that are available for newborns and in pregnancy. Evidence shows that screening newborn babies for hearing problems and cystic fibrosis can make a big difference to the treatment and support they receive, and can significantly improve their health and development.
'We also know parents want more information about tests done in pregnancy. That is why we are introducing new counselling, support and national standards so that expectant parents can make informed choices about which tests to have.'
Last week health secretary Alan Milburn announced that every maternity unit will receive a share of a new 100m fund for maternity services. The aim is for all women in labour to have a dedicated midwife, and the money should provide for more comfortable and better equiped accommodation for parents and more single rooms in hospital.