The Joint Committee on Infant Hearing (JCIH) in 2000 issued a statement that recommended universal screening for hearing loss before a newborn is discharged from the hospital. The statement also included guidelines for state and hospital programs. Research supports that the earlier a child is identified with hearing loss and intervention is provided, the better the child will be able to develop normal speech and language skills. The ultimate goal is that all infants are identified with hearing loss before 3 months old and receive intervention services initiated by 6 months old.
The Newborn Hearing Screening typically involves a Auditory Brainstem Response (ABR), which objectively measures the brain's response to sound and Otoacoustic Emissions (OAE), which measure emissions from the sensory cells in the cochlea. Here is a good summary comparing the two measures at About.com ABR vs. OAE.
The California Newborn Hearing Screening Program "helps identify hearing loss in infants and guide families to the appropriate services needed to develop communication skills." Read more about the program on their website.
It's important to remember that if an infant does not pass their Newborn Hearing Screening, it does not mean that he or she is deaf or has a hearing loss. More testing is necessary to determine if there is a hearing impairment and therefore, further testing will be recommended before hearing status is determined.
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