Newborn Screening Early Hearing Detection

A doctor leans in to examine a baby's ears with a scope, but the baby is facing her, looking down the center of the scope

Nevada Early Hearing Detection and Intervention

In the U.S., two to three of every 1,000 newborns screened have identified hearing loss. However, infants who are identified with hearing loss before six months of age and receive appropriate intervention demonstrate significantly better receptive and expressive language skills than children whose hearing loss is identified later in life.

The goal of Nevada EHDI is to ensure that all infants and toddlers with hearing loss are diagnosed and treated as early as possible. By diagnosing hearing loss early, we can provide timely and appropriate audiological, medical and educational intervention.

Supporting infants and their families

EHDI provides training and support to local hospitals to help them provide accurate and efficient hearing screens for every newborn in Nevada. Additionally, we ensure that all infants screened receive timely follow-up testing, audiological consultations, resources and support. We are proud to meet the needs of babies and their families to ensure that infants with hearing loss receive proper treatment for long-term success.

The 1-3-6 plan

The 1-3-6 plan ensures that infants are screened for hearing loss before 1 month of age. Babies will usually receive two safe and painless screening tests to evaluate their hearing prior to hospital discharge. All infants who do not pass the hearing screen should receive a complete hearing evaluation by an experienced audiologist before three months of age. Additionally, infants with confirmed hearing loss should receive intervention referrals by six months of age, including medical, audiological, educational and support services.

Additional resources