Primary Care Providers
If a hearing screen was not performed at birth:
As this child's primary care provider, please order the required hearing testing by 1 month of age. National Early Hearing Detection and Intervention Guidelines require a diagnosis of 'normal hearing' or identification or permanent hearing loss prior to 3 months of age. The newborn hearing screening prior to 1 month is the first step in making sure that this is possible. If your office can not provide the newborn hearing screening, the
Infant Audiological Assessment and Diagnostic Centers is a list of locations which can provide this service.
If your patient failed their newborn hearing screening:
They may have additional risk factors for hearing loss and are at risk for neurodevelopmental delays. This child needs more hearing testing. Most infants under three months corrected age do not require sedation to obtain this testing. As this child's primary care provider, please order the required hearing testing by age indicated on the risk factor guidelines. National Early Hearing Detection and Intervention (EHDI) Guidelines require a diagnosis of normal hearing or identification of permanent hearing loss prior to 3 months of age.
If your patient passed the newborn hearing screening and they are at risk for progressive or delayed onset hearing loss:
As this child's primary care provider, please order the required hearing testing by age indicated on the risk factor guidelines.
If your patient has been diagnosed with permanent childhood hearing loss:
Children diagnosed with permanent hearing loss are at risk for neurodevelopmental delays. This patient will require frequent monitoring of hearing status, access to amplification, and should be referred for assessment and enrollment in early intervention before 6 months of age for the infant to reach their full potential. As the child's primary care provider, please ensure that they have continued care with an audiologist and also refer the child to ENT, Genetics, and Ophthalmology. To connect a parent with a parent whose baby was diagnosed with hearing loss (or if they need support navigating screening and diagnosis), please call Kentucky Hands & Voices: 1-888-398-5030.
Early Intervention Services
Research shows that children with hearing loss who have intervention before six months of age are more likely to reach developmental milestones within the same age range as hearing peers.
Reporting
For Hospitals, Birthing Facilities, and Midwives
If you are already an approved Newborn Hearing Screening facility/provider, please follow KYCHILD/KOG protocol.
Birthing Facility Newborn Hearing Screening Program Compliance Checklist
To learn more about your responsibilities as a Newborn Hearing Screening program/provider or request the hospital compliance guide, please contact EHDI@ky.gov.
For Audiologists and Hearing Centers
Please complete the AUF Access Form and email the completed form to EHDI@ky.gov.
The preferred method of reporting is through KYCHILD/KOG, but you may fax results to 502-429-7160 or send them via encrypted email to EHDI@ky.gov.
For Early Childhood, Early Intervention, and Primary Care Providers
For anyone providing a hearing screening and/or reporting outside of a hospital or audiologist's office, please fax results to 502-429-7160 ATTN: EHDI.