Early Hearing Detection & Intervention (EHDI) Program

• Each year in the United States (U.S.), more than 12,000 babies are born with a hearing loss. The cause of hearing loss for many babies is not known, and hearing loss can go unnoticed for years.
   
• Studies have shown that children who have a hearing loss can have delays in speech, language, social skills, and academic achievement. This is why all babies need a hearing screening, which helps find children who may have a hearing loss.
   
• Most babies have a hearing screening soon after birth, usually before they leave the hospital. This is often called Universal Newborn Hearing Screening (UNHS). That means everybody is screened.
   
• When a child’s hearing loss is identified soon after birth, the child’s family and doctors can make sure the child gets services (e.g., intervention) he or she needs at an early age. This will help the child develop communication and language skills that will last a lifetime.
   
• Early Hearing Detection and Intervention (EHDI) programs are set up by U.S. states and territories to help make sure that infants and children with hearing loss are found and receive help (e.g., intervention) as soon as possible.
   
• UNHS is the first step in the EHDI process; other important steps are audiological evaluation to confirm a hearing loss, and early intervention services.

The EHDI program at CDC supports states and territories in developing and implementing EHDI tracking and surveillance systems. These systems help state EHDI programs make sure that babies get the hearing screening, follow-up, and early intervention services they need.

To learn more about EHDI please click here.