Universal newborn hearing screening was federally mandated in the United States in 1999. Early identification of hearing loss is extremely important. Any degree of hearing loss, even if the loss is only in one ear, may significantly impact a child’s communication and social-emotional development. Hearing loss may also impact a child educationally.
In North Carolina, all hospital birthing facilities complete newborn hearing screens on babies at birth. Greater than 99% of babies born in North Carolina have a newborn hearing screen completed.
Did you know?
- 50% of childhood hearing loss is present at birth and 50% is late onset (meaning after birth).
- 95% of children with hearing loss are born to two hearing parents.
- Hearing loss can occur at any age.
The Joint Commission on Infant Hearing (JCIH) has established guidelines for universal newborn hearing screening and follow up. We refer to these benchmarks as “1-3-6”.
- “1” means all babies should have their hearing screen (inpatient screen and outpatient rescreen) completed by one month of age.
- “3” means all babies that do not pass their hearing screen should be seen by a pediatric audiologist and have a complete diagnostic audiological evaluation by three months of age.
- “6” means that all babies diagnosed with a hearing loss should receive treatment/intervention by six months of age. Children may be fitted with hearing aids as young as 6 weeks and children have had cochlear implants as young as 10-12 months of age.
The North Carolina Division of Public Health, Early Hearing Detection and Intervention (EHDI) Program monitors universal newborn hearing screening and follow up. The NC EHDI Program provides technical assistance and education to hospitals, medical providers, audiologists and other service providers. It supports families by connecting them to available resources, including other families who have a child who is deaf or hard of hearing, and helping them to find the care their children need. Parents and providers can learn about EHDI, find materials to help guide them through the hearing loss identification and intervention processes, and locate pediatric audiologists and educational resources on the NC EHDI website: www.ncnewbornhearing.org.
The following are a few developmental milestones for hearing and speech and language:
Birth to 3 months
| 4-6 months
|
7 months to 1 year
| 1 to 2 years
|
If you have concerns about your child’s hearing or speech and language (visual and/or spoken), please contact your child’s physician.
