EHDI National Goals
National Goals, Program Objectives, and Performance Measures for the Early Hearing Detection and Intervention (EHDI) Tracking and Surveillance System
Goal 1. All newborns will be screened for hearing loss before 1 month of age, preferably before hospital discharge.
| Program Objectives | Performance Indicators |
| 1.1 Universal screening. All birthing facilities will have a universal newborn and infant hearing screening (UNHS) program that screens all newborns. Small hospitals that do not screen newborns will refer infants to a screening program. | a. Number and percent of birthing hospitals in the state that screen at least 98% of infants before discharge. b. Number and percent of small hospitals that do not screen but have plans for referral of infants to a screening program, including designation of responsible staff positions(s) and timeline. c. Number and percent of infants screened before hospital discharge. d. Number and percent of infants screened before 1 month of age. e. Number and percent of infants whose families refuse screening. |
| 1.2 Information on newborn hearing and the screening process. All birthing facilities will have linguistically appropriate and culturally sensitive brochures or other materials to inform parent(s) or guardians of newborns about the newborn hearing and screening process before the infant is screened. | a. Number and percent of pregnant women that received EHDI information before delivery. b. Number and percent of new parents that receive EHDI information in the hospital at the time of delivery. c. Number and percent of hospitals that provide information packets in Spanish, or other languages spoken by at least 5% of the population. |
| 1.3 Demographic data. All hospitals will collect demographic data such as race/ethnicity, educational level of the mother, and type of insurance covered before hospital discharge. | a. Number and percent of infants in each racial/ethnic group. b. Percent of infants whose mothers are in each category of level of education. c. Number and percent of mothers in each insurance category. |
| 1.4 Out of hospital births. States will have a mechanism to ensure that infants not born in birthing hospitals will receive a hearing screening. | a. Number and percent of infants born out of hospital. b. Number and percent of infants born out of the hospital that received a hearing screening before one month of age. |
| 1.5 Financial barriers. Each state will develop a system to reduce/eliminate financial barriers to newborn hearing screening. | a. Published guidelines to reduce financial barriers that include information for parents on how to receive financial help or free screening and/or diagnostic services. b. Number of hospitals or other relevant organizations to which the guidelines were distributed, including designation of responsible staff and timelines. |
| 1.6 Reporting. Results of the hearing screening will be provided to the infant’s parents and primary care provider (PCP). | a. Forms and stated protocol for providing screening results to parents and PCP are available. |
| 1.7 Linkage and referral to audiologic follow-up. Each state will identify a linkage system to ensure that all infants who do not pass the hearing screening will have appropriate referral for diagnostic evaluation. Referral rates will be 4 percent or less. | a. Number and percent of infants that do not pass the initial inpatient or outpatient screening and are referred for diagnostic audiologic evaluation. b. Number and percent of infants who were referred for diagnostic evaluation. |
| 1.8 Education and training. Hospitals or EHDI program will have a training plan for all service providers, including screeners (inpatient and outpatient), nurses, and physicians. | a. Yearly or semiannual list of training sessions completed (or planned) for screeners, nurses, and physicians. |
| 1.9 Screening protocols. Hospitals will have written hearing screening protocols that include standard policies, procedures for screening, and appropriate forms. | a. Copy of hearing screening protocols. |
Contact Us:
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities
Hearing Loss Team
1600 Clifton Road
MS E-87
Atlanta, GA 30333 - 800-CDC-INFO
(800-232-4636)
TTY: (888) 232-6348
New Hours of Operation
8am-8pm ET/Monday-Friday
Closed Holidays - cdcinfo@cdc.gov
