Newborn Hearing Screening
Program Goal:
That all infants are screened for hearing loss prior to discharge from birthing/neonatal facilities, or within one month of birth.
Benefits of Early Hearing Screening and Intervention
Research has shown that infants who were identified with hearing loss and received intervention services before six months of age will have significantly better outcomes than peers who were not identified with hearing loss until after six months of age. They will also be at or near their hearing peers in speech-language & cognitive development by the time they enter school.
Status of Newborn Hearing Screening in North Carolina
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All birthing/neonatal facilities have hearing screening equipment.
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All birthing/neonatal facilities are participating in universal newborn hearing screening and reporting outcomes to the EHDI Program. The goal is to have facilities screen 98% of infants before discharge.
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Data Reporting
All providers are required (15A NCAC 21F .1204) to submit the following data to the Early Hearing Detection and Intervention Program within five days:
- Hearing screening results for infants less than six months of age,
- Diagnostic audiological evaluation results for infants less than twelve months of age, and,
- Amplification selection for infants less than twelve months of age.
Reporting forms are available by calling the Newborn Hearing Screening Program Office toll-free at 1-866-431-7434, locally at 919-707-5631.
Technical Assistance
The Division of Public Health regional speech and hearing consultants provide technical assistance for the Newborn Hearing Screening Program. The following support is provided to service providers and families:
- Technical assistance to hospitals for establishing and maintaining local universal newborn hearing screening programs. Technical assistance to service providers in the collection and reporting of data.
- Consultation with families, agencies and professionals in the selection and procurement of assistive listening, signaling/alerting, amplification/vibro-tactile and augmentative communication devices.
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