Early Hearing Detection and Intervention (EHDI)

The EHDI program ensures that children who are deaf or hard of hearing are identified through newborn, infant, and early childhood hearing screening and receive the diagnostic and early intervention services they need. The goal is that every child with a hearing loss is identified before 3 months of age and provided with appropriate intervention by 6 months of age.

Your child’s most important learning takes place during the first years of life, which is why it is so important to have your newborn’s hearing checked in order to identify babies who have a hearing loss. Even a slight hearing loss can delay speech, language and learning. Babies identified early can receive the appropriate support and services in order to communicate. All birthing sites provide hearing screening prior to discharge, and can be safely tested within the first day of life.

Approximately 2-3 babies per 1,000 births will be identified as having hearing loss. This is why it is so important to test all newborn babies before they leave the hospital. A trained person will screen your baby’s hearing using special computerized equipment – which is not painful and can be done while your baby is asleep. This screening will show whether your baby’s hearing is normal, or if further testing is needed. These results will be given to you before discharge.

Approximately 1 out of every 10 newborns will need to be re-screened. This doesn’t mean he or she is deaf or hard of hearing. Sometimes the baby is too fussy during the screening or there is birthing debris in the ears.

If the screening results indicate your infant should be re-screened, it is important to have it done within the first month. The hospital will schedule an appointment for you to have this re-screening completed by trained personnel.

Our Role:

• Support for a coordinated system of care targeted towards newborns, infants, and young children up to 3 years of age who are deaf or hard of hearing.
• Provide education and training and help for parents and caregivers served by the EHDI program, through learning communities that increase engagement, enhance knowledge and facilitate informed decision-making.

For more information email Arielle Morris, PIC’s EHDI Project Coordinator, at amorris@picofdel.org