The NHSRC is the main partner of the Department of Health (DOH) in implementing Republic Act No. 9709 or the Universal Newborn Hearing Screening and Intervention Act which was signed into law on 12 August 2009. The NHSRC aims to develop standards for certification for newborn hearing screening centers; define hearing screening protocols; maintain external laboratory proficiency program; oversee the national testing database and cases registries; assist in training activities in all aspects of the program; oversee the development of all promotional and educational materials; report the Department of Health any non-compliance committed by newborn hearing screening centers of health facility in the country.

The UP Board of Regents formally approved the creation of the NHSRC on 24 February 2012. Since then, the vision of the Center is for every newborn to be given access to physiologic hearing screening examination prior to hospital discharge for the detection of hearing loss and to receive intervention in the earliest feasible time.