How Hearing Loss is Diagnosed in Newborns / Children
1. Every infant born in Indiana should have a Universal Newborn Hearing Screen completed at the birth hospital before going home (or before one month of age). If a baby does not pass the hearing screen, he or she should be referred for Early Hearing Detection and Intervention (EHDI) follow-up testing and services. Babies who have at least one risk factor for hearing loss should also be referred for EHDI follow-up testing and services.
2. Babies who are referred for EHDI follow-up testing and services should have a complete hearing evaluation done at an audiology facility by an audiologist trained in pediatrics (trained to perform diagnostic testing on newborns and children). For a list of Level 1 audiology facilities in Indiana, please click here.
3. Families of children who are diagnosed with hearing loss should access family support resources.
For more information about each family support resource, please click on a name below.
4. Children who are diagnosed with hearing loss should be referred to an otolaryngologist (ear, nose and throat physician, also called an ENT) to get medical clearance for amplification. Most children with a hearing loss can benefit significantly from the use of hearing aids and other assistive technologies. An otolaryngologist is a board-certified physician who has specialized knowledge and skills regarding the ears, nose and throat. He/she will evaluate your child to determine if there may be a medical reason for his/her hearing loss. After an ENT evaluation, the physician will determine if your child is “cleared” to receive amplification for treatment of his/her hearing loss.
5. Return to your audiologist for to have your child fitted for earmolds and to be evaluated with hearing aids. Your audiologist will determine which hearing aid is the best match to your child’s hearing loss. You can help the audiologist by observing your child’s behavior with his hearing aids and reporting (to the audiologist) how you think your child is responding to sound.
6. Communication Evaluation and Early Intervention
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Children diagnosed with hearing loss should have a communication evaluation done by a professional who is trained and experienced in working with children with hearing loss. These professionals may be speech-language pathologists, audiologists, early childhood educators with special training in hearing loss, or early intervention deaf educators. These professionals usually have completed graduate-level studies in the field of hearing loss. This evaluation will take 3-4 hours and will provide with you information regarding your child’s abilities and levels of functioning in the area of communication as well as other developmental areas. Because hearing loss impacts communication development, most babies and toddlers with hearing loss will need and benefit from regular and consistent early intervention sessions.
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Children diagnosed with hearing loss should be enrolled in treatment with an early intervention specialist who is trained and experienced in working with very young children with hearing loss. An early intervention specialist may be a speech-language pathologist, an audiologist, an early childhood educator with special training in hearing loss, or an early intervention deaf educator.
7. Children diagnosed with hearing loss should continue to see their audiologist for audiological (hearing) management. This management may include other hearing evaluations, ear mold impressions and fittings, or hearing aid adjustments.
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