Nevada Early Hearing Detection and Intervention - Information for Parents
Understanding the Newborn Hearing Screen
Many babies with hearing loss will react to loud sounds, cry, and
babble. The only way to know if your baby’s hearing is normal is to have a
screening done with special equipment. All
babies born in Nevada are offered a newborn hearing screen by their birth
hospital. There are two types of screening tests used on infants. Both tests are safe, painless, and take only
a few minutes. Be sure to know the
results of your baby’s hearing screening. The results will be either a “pass”
or a “not pass/refer”. Hospitals must
send hearing screening results to the Nevada EHDI Program.
Nevada Hearing Screening Brochures
If Baby Does Not Pass the Newborn Hearing Screen
This does not mean your baby has a hearing loss but indicates the need
for additional testing. Your baby should
return to the hospital for an out-patient rescreen. These are usually provided at no additional
cost. The rescreen should be completed
before your baby is one month old. If
the rescreen is not passed, your baby should have a diagnostic hearing evaluation
by a pediatric audiologist before three months of age. Although most audiologists only work with
school-aged children or adults, a pediatric audiologist has the specialized
skills and equipment to test infants and young children.
Nevada Brochures for Babies who do Not Pass the Screen
Next Steps for Follow-up and Resources for a Diagnostic Hearing Evaluation
Understanding Your Child's Hearing Loss / Getting Services for Your Child
When appropriate, infants with hearing loss should be fit with hearing
aids or other listening devices within one month of diagnosis. Your baby should also be enrolled in Early
Intervention as soon as possible, ideally prior to 6 months of age.