OBJECTIVES: To quantify the hearing screening (TAN) procedures of the cities in the Rio Grande do Sul (RS) state in 2012. CASE REPORT: Hearing is important for the acquisition and development of language, and also facilitates the integration of a subject within his or her environment. Therefore, hearing issues need to be identified as early as possible and patients referred for specialized treatment. Identifying the locations where the TAN evaluations are performed in the state makes it possible to identify any disparities in the availability of health services, which are mainly concentrated in big cities. The paucity of such services in small cities limits accessibility and does not achieve the government's set goal of screening 95% of newborns. CONCLUSIONS: There are insufficient clinical services to meet demand, which limits the scope of the hearing services and the availability of user and other professionals' access to such services in order to determine the criteria and priorities for hearing care. It is essential that such services be organized in accordance with regional needs and characteristics, and that there is a focus on the promotion of hearing health in speech and hearing therapy that highlights the achievements of TAN. At present, the sector faces a number of challenges and the hearing care network in RS has to be re-evaluated to ensure it is comprehensive and available to a greater number of people.