Early Hearing Detection and Intervention (EHDI)
Resources Available for Colorado Pediatricians

by Maureen Cunningham, MD, FAAP
Assistant Professor of Pediatrics
Pediatric Hospital Medicine, Children’s Hospital Colorado
Center for Global Health, Colorado School of Public Health
AAP Colorado EHDI Chapter Champion

Did you know, for every 1,000 babies born in Colorado, two to three newborns are born with hearing loss? Early identification of hearing loss and appropriate intervention by 3 to 6 months of age can have a positive impact on language development and outcomes for children who are deaf and hard of hearing (DHH).

To ensure optimal outcomes for these infants, the National Early Hearing Detection and Intervention (EHDI) guidelines recommend:

• newborn hearing screening done by 1 month of age;
• diagnosis of hearing loss by 3 months of age; and
• entry into early intervention by 6 months of age.

Yet, few states, including Colorado, are meeting these guidelines due to widespread loss of follow up and documentation. Colorado’s loss to follow up and documentation rate for infants who fail universal newborn hearing screening was 64% in 2014.

As pediatricians, I know we can do better.

Please email me to learn more about resources available to Colorado medical providers and families as they navigate the EHDI system, and ways the medical home can help ensure timely follow up and intervention for children with hearing loss.

Please email Ellen Brilliant to participate in an “EHDI Virtual Learning Collaborative” on February 16th at Noon.