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Newborn Hearing Screening

Alabama's Listening! is the Early Hearing Detection and Intervention Program (EHDI) for the Alabama Department of Public Health. The program was initiated in February 2001 to ensure all Alabama birthing facilities were able to screen for newborn hearing loss, which is the most commonly occurring birth disorder in the United States.

In 2008, Universal Newborn Hearing Screening (UNHS) became a mandated part of the Alabama Newborn Screening panel of disorders. The goal of the program is to create and maintain UNHS programs in Alabama to ensure early identification, treatment, and intervention of infants with hearing loss.

Hands & Voices New Year Virtual 5K Announcement

Please visit the Alabama Hands & Voices site for information on the Alabama Hands & Voices Virtual 5K Event scheduled Saturday, December 28, 2024.

Newborn Hearing Reporting Forms

Alabama's Early Intervention System

Any child who has been identified with a hearing loss diagnosis should be referred for early intervention services as early as possible. Alabama's Early Intervention System is a coordinated, family-focused system of resources, supports and services for eligible infants and toddlers birth to 3 years who have developmental delays. Early Intervention services are defined by the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). Services may include:

audiology
assistive devices and technology
occupational therapy
physical therapy
physchological services
sign language and cued language speech services
speech language pathology
transportation
vision services

To utilize Alabama's Early Intervention System, fax a completed referral form to (334) 293-7393.

Newborn Hearing Screening: What Do the Results Mean?

Hearing screening is performed at 24-48 hours of age, or before the baby leaves the hospital. Parents and health care providers can learn more about the process from our Newborn Hearing Screening flyer .

Image Hearing Infographic Second Page hearing infographic

Parent Roadmap

What if My Baby Passes the Newborn Hearing Screening but Has a Hearing Risk Factor?

According to the Joint Committee on Infant Hearing (JCIH), some infants who pass newborn hearing screening at birth may be identified later in childhood as deaf or hard of hearing. Hearing loss identified later in childhood is known as late onset or progressive hearing loss.

Some common risk factors for late onset hearing loss includes a hospital stay greater than 5 days and parent concern. The Hearing Risk Factor Card identifies risk factors which are known to be associated with late onset or progressive hearing loss. It is recommended a child receive another hearing evaluation by a pediatric audiologist between 3-9 months of age if a risk factor is identified. You may speak to your child's doctor at anytime if there is concern regarding your child's hearing development.

2021 Hospital Guidelines for Universal Newborn Hearing Screening

The Hospital Guidelines for Universal Newborn Hearing Screening provides guidance to hospitals on public health law, reporting requirements, training, screening tips, algorithms,scripts, risk factors, outsource considerations, and other information. Hospitals are encouraged to refer to the guidelines to be consistent with national standards.

Alabama Early Hearing Detection & Intervention (EHDI) Workshop

The Alabama Department of Public Health Newborn Screening Program hosted the first EHDI Workshop on Friday, April 27, 2018, at the Alabama School for the Deaf and Blind (AIDB) in Talladega, Alabama. Thank you to all the presenters and participants for making the program a success. Thank you to AIDB for all of their assistance in planning the event and for use of their fabulous facilities.

Presentations included the following:

Family Based Organizations

The Alabama Department of Public Health has partnered with Hands & Voices of Alabama, Guide By Your Side Program, to provide mentorship and support services to families who have a child identified with hearing loss. Services include regular support from parent mentors, training for various communication modes, and opportunities to collaborate with policy makers and the Early Hearing Detection and Intervention Program.

If interested in connecting with a parent mentor, please call Hands & Voices of Alabama Guide By Your Side Program at (205) 677-3136 or email [email protected].

Congenital Cytomeglovirus (CMV) and Hearing Loss

Congenital CMV is the most common non-genetic cause of childhood sensorineural hearing loss. According to the CDC, about one out of every 150 babies are born with congenital CMV infection. However, only about one in five babies with congenital CMV infection will be sick from the virus or will have long-term health problems such as hearing loss.

Some babies without signs of congenital CMV infection at birth may have hearing loss. Hearing loss may be present at birth or may develop later in babies who passed their newborn hearing test. Congenital CMV infection can be diagnosed by testing a newborn baby's saliva, urine, or blood. Such specimens must be collected for testing within two to three weeks after the baby is born in order to confirm a diagnosis of congenital CMV infection. For more information visit the CDC webpage.

Online Resource: Hearing Service Directory

Early Hearing Detection & Intervention Pediatric Audiology Links to Services (EHDI-PALS) is a new easy-to-use online directory that helps families find the nearest clinic providing the type of hearing service their child needs. Visit EHDI-PALS for more information.

Newborn Hearing Podcast

The Earworm Podcast features conversations with a wide array of professionals, family members, advocates, and scientists whose experiences, ideas, curiosities, and activities are committed to ensuring that all children who are deaf or hard-of-hearing can thrive. The Earworm Podcast is available for streaming anywhere you listen to podcasts, as well at earwormpodcast.org.

Some of the Earworm podcasts are listed below:

Learn to Screen

Standardized online hearing screener training is available for pure tone audiometry courses and otoacoustic emissions courses through the National Center for Hearing Assessment and Management. The training is available for staff responsible for providing evidence-based hearing screening and follow-up services in Early Head Start, Early Intervention Programs, Preschool Programs, Home Visiting Programs, schools, and health care settings.

The training is intended for first-time screeners or for those previously trained who are needing a refresher. Once you complete the learning activities, you will obtain a personalized Certificate of Completion.

Online American Sign Language (ASL) Courses

Gallaudet University offers online ASL courses. Registrants can complete the courses at their own pace. Online courses are available year-round. Registration for Fall 2024 training opportunities is now available.

Reporting Requirements for Hearing Screening

Each year, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) Early Hearing Detection and Intervention Program (EHDI) conducts the Hearing Screening and Follow-up Survey (HSFS). This survey is designed to collect national data on the number of infants screened, diagnosed, and referred to early intervention for hearing loss, in an effort to monitor the state's efforts in meeting the national EHDI goals. For a comprehensive view of the data provided to the CDC and to see how Alabama compares to other states, you can access the Hearing Screening and Follow-up Survey at the CDC website.

Newborn Hearing Screening Resources

Developmental Milestones in Hearing

Parents can use this as a guide to see how their child is progressing developmentally.

Birth to three months:

Jumps or blinks to loud sounds
Wakes up to loud sounds
Quiets when he or she hears mom's voice

Three months to six months:

Turns eyes or head to search for the sound source
Responds to your voice even when you cannot be seen
Enjoys toys that make sounds
Starts babbling

At six months:

Responds to his or her name
Turns head to the direction of the sound source
Begins to imitate speech sounds

At 10 to 12 months:

Understands and follows simple directions
Gives a block or toy to you when asked for it without pointing
Imitates speech sounds of others

At 13 to 18 months:

Follows simple one step directions
Uses 3-20 single words
Points to 1-3 body parts when asked

At 19 to 24 months:

Understands approximately 300 words
Puts two words together ("eat cookie") by 24 months of age
Points to five body parts
Responds to "yes" or "no" questions

Every Baby Should Have a Hearing Screening

Statistics show that between 1 to 6 newborns per 1,000 have some degree of hearing loss. Although these statistics indicate that it is unlikely that most babies will have a hearing loss, it is important to identify existing loss as soon as possible since the first two years of a baby's life are critical for learning speech and language. Because any hearing loss could affect a baby's speech and language development, diagnosis and appropriate intervention should occur by 6 months of age or earlier.

Hearing Screening Methods

There are two types of hearing screens that may be used to test for hearing loss. Both tests are very safe, take only minutes to perform, and are non-invasive. Most infants sleep though the hearing screening procedure.

Automated Auditory Brainstem Response (AABR): A soft click is presented to each ear through miniature earphones while electrodes placed on the infant’s forehead, neck, and shoulder record the response as it travels between the ear and brain. The response is analyzed to determine how well the inner ear and auditory nerve are working. This test method is recommended for high-risk newborns admitted to the NICU greater than five days and should be completed as a second test method if an infant is initially tested with AABR.
Otoacoustic Emissions (OAE): Soft clicks or tones are presented into the infant’s ear through a probe snugly placed in the entrance to the ear canal. A small microphone in the probe measures the echo that returns from the infant’s ear. The OAE equipment analyzes this echo and determines how well the inner ear is working.

Hearing Screening Results

If an infant does not pass the first hearing screen, an attempt may be made to repeat the screen before hospital discharge, or it may be scheduled after going home. If an infant does not pass the second hearing screen, additional hearing tests should be administered under the care of an audiologist or otolaryngologist.

Although only a small percentage of infants who do not pass the hospital hearing screen actually have hearing loss, it is important for every baby to receive appropriate testing to adequately determine hearing ability. Also, because early intervention is so important to the development of infants with hearing loss, it is important that the testing not be delayed. It is recommended that all testing be completed by three months of age and that infants with hearing loss be enrolled in an intervention program as early as possible, but no later than six months of age. An audiologist and/or physician can provide information on local early intervention programs, or the information can be obtained by calling 1-800-CHILD-FIND (1-800-543-3098).

Retesting May Be Needed

The results of the a hearing test indicate an infant's hearing ability at the time of the test. Some children with recurrent ear infections, serious acute or chronic illness, or with a family history of hearing impairment , or other risk factors may develop hearing loss later in life. If there are ever any concerns about a child's hearing ability, or speech and language development, this should be addressed by the parents and the physician in order for an appropriate evaluation is to be completed.

Page last updated: December 10, 2024