Programs
Newborn Hearing
Program Overview
The Newborn Hearing Screening Program’s goal is to identify congenital hearing loss in children before three months of age with appropriate intervention no later than six months of age.
Hearing screening should be completed for all babies no later than 1 month of age if medically able. The hearing screen is used to identify newborns who are likely to have hearing loss and who require further evaluation. A diagnostic evaluation should be performed not later than 3 months of age if the newborn fails the initial screen. Early Intervention should occur before 6 months of age or as soon as a child is identified with hearing loss.
Contact Information
Liz Schardine, Audiologist
Early Hearing Detection and Intervention Coordinator
785-368-7167
Elizabeth.schardine@ks.gov
Lisa Elliott
Early Hearing Detection and Intervention Lead Follow Up Consultant
785-296-6761
Lisa.elliott@ks.gov
Aidee Luna*
Early Hearing Detection and Intervention Follow Up Consultant
785-296-6861
Aidee.luna@ks.gov
*Spanish Speaking
Why We Screen
The primary purpose of newborn hearing screening is to identify newborns likely to have hearing loss and require further evaluation. Newborn screening helps ensure all babies who are deaf or hard of hearing are identified as soon as possible. Without newborn hearing screening, it is hard to know if a baby hears at the levels that consonants and vowels are produced. If the hearing status is not identified, it may negatively affect the baby’s communication and language skills. Not catching hearing loss can also impact the child’s academic achievement and social-emotional development in the long term.
Late Onset Hearing Loss Campaign
In the U.S., nearly 98% of newborns are screened for hearing loss. While the newborn hearing screening program is aimed at identifying hearing loss at the time of birth, sometimes the change in hearing status happens later. In fact, incidence of permanent hearing loss doubles between birth and school age. Too often young children with postnatal hearing loss fall through the cracks. They go unidentified for months or years which can lead to additional delays and struggles.
Signs and symptoms of hearing loss can be subtle and easily overlooked. Children with unidentified hearing loss are at increased risk of significant speech, language and developmental delays. These delays can impact literacy, communication, social and emotional health, and success in classrooms.
Ongoing hearing health monitoring is important even when a child has passed their newborn screen and there are known risk factors.