PURPOSE: To analyze the results obtained in a neonatal hearing screening program that included two procedures, Transient Otoacoustic Emissions and Automated Brainstem Evoked Response Audiometry, in healthy neonates, born in a public hospital, regarding the variables gender (male or female) and ear that failed (left, right or bilateral). METHODS: Neonates born in a public maternity hospital, who stayed in shared rooms and attended hearing screening after discharge were included in the study. The screening included the Transient Otoacoustic Emissions with pass/fail criterium, and a retest for neonates who failed the first test with the Automated Brainstem Evoked Response Audiometry. RESULTS: A total of 5106 neonates were screened, 51.3% male and 48.7% female. Among them, 628 (12.3%) neonates failed the test, 368 (58.6%) male and 260 (41.4%) female. They were referred to the Brainstem Evoked Response Audiometry, and 223 (35.3%) came to the test. From these subjects, 199 (89.2%) passed and 24 (10.8%) failed the test: 17 (70.9%) male and seven (29.1%) female. Statistically significant difference was found between gender and fail in the Transient Otoacoustic Emissions. Ten percent of the neonates failed both screening procedures. CONCLUSION: It was found that a higher number of male neonates failed the Transient Otoacoustic Emissions screening. There was no difference between male and female neonates regarding the failled response in the right and left ears.