Did you know that about 3 out of every 1,000 babies are born with hearing loss each year? More than half of children with hearing loss are otherwise healthy and have no family history of hearing loss.
The Early Hearing Detection and Intervention (EHDI) works to identify hearing loss in Georgia’s infants and children so that they can receive resources and services they need. Diagnosing and treating hearing loss as soon as possible is crucial for children to develop language and communication skills, as well as to reach their fullest potential in education, reading, and social development.
How does Newborn Hearing Screening work?
In the Northeast Health District, each of the three birthing hospitals screen every infant’s hearing before discharge. If a baby does not pass the first hearing screening, the EHDI District Coordinator works with families, audiologists, pediatricians, and early intervention programs to coordinate the baby’s care and refer him or her to the appropriate services. The EHDI program also follows up with babies who pass an initial hearing screen but have a risk factor for possible late-onset or progressive hearing loss. A child can be enrolled in the EHDI program from birth through age 5.
How to Participate:
If you are concerned that your child may have hearing loss, speak to your pediatrician about making an appointment with a specialist for testing. If your infant or child has already been screened for hearing loss by a hospital or specialist and did not pass, you will be contacted by our EHDI District Coordinator and guided to additional resources and services as needed. You will also be contacted if your infant passed an initial hearing test but has a risk factor for developing hearing loss later.
Resources:
- “How Does Your Child Hear and Talk” (English)
- “How Does Your Child Hear and Talk” (Spanish)
- Common Reasons a Child Should Receive a Follow-up Hearing Test
- CDC Hearing Loss in Children
- Georgia Department of Public Health EHDI
EHDI District Coordinator:
Cathy Wilkinson // [email protected]
740 Prince Ave – Building 15
Athens, GA 30601
706-583-2611
