Hearing screening provides a great opportunity to talk with families about a child's language development and learning.  Most parents are not aware that a baby or young child could have a hearing loss, or how that could affect language learning. That's one of the main reasons it is important for a child's hearing to be checked at birth, and again periodically during childhood. Here are a few resources that can be helpful in explaining hearing screening to families. 

 

Programs working with expectant mothers and parents of newborn babies can start with this simple handout on newborn hearing screening and follow-up . All babies should have a hearing screening shortly after birth, and parents should know the results and what to do if their baby did not pass. If parents are curious about how a newborn's hearing can be checked, Giving Your Baby a Sound Beginning is a 6-minute video that explains the process. Programs serving infants and young children will also want to review each child's health record to verify that the child either passed the newborn screen
(or re-screen), or was evaluated by a pediatric audiologist.  Program staff should assist families in taking any needed follow-up steps and report outcomes back to the State's Early Hearing Detection and Intervention program responsible for tracking newborn hearing screening outcomes.

Program s screening infants, toddlers and young children beyo nd the newborn period can use this handout on periodic scree ning as one way to let parents know that this service is being provided.