Status: Baseline only
Increase the proportion of infants who did not pass the hearing screening test that receive diagnostic audiologic evaluation for hearing loss no later than 3 months of age
Baseline: 75.0 percent of infants who did not pass the hearing screening test received diagnostic audiologic evaluation for hearing loss no later than 3 months of age in 2017
Target: 79.2 percent
Data Source: Early Hearing Detection and Intervention Hearing Screening and Follow-up Survey (EHDI/HSFS), CDC/NCBDDD
Summary
Children with hearing loss may have delays in the development of speech, social, and emotional skills. Guidelines recommend that infants who show signs of hearing loss at a newborn screening be evaluated by age 3 months so they can get help if needed. Community, state, and federal systems that require newborn hearing screening and follow-up evaluations are key to addressing hearing loss early.