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Updated: Jun 15, 2026
Behavioral Assessment of Hearing in 2 to 4 Year-old Children: A Two-interval, Observer-based Procedure Using Conditioned Play-based Responses
Published on: January 23, 2017
Identifying infants with hearing loss - United States, 1999-2007
Insights
Early Hearing Detection and Intervention (EHDI) programs have significantly increased infant hearing screening rates. These programs are vital for identifying congenital hearing loss and ensuring timely intervention for affected newborns.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Pediatrics
- Genetics
Background:
- Congenital hearing loss impacts 2-3 infants per 1,000 live births, potentially delaying crucial speech and language development.
- Early Hearing Detection and Intervention (EHDI) programs are established in all states and U.S. territories, representing evidence-based public health policy.
- Statutes and regulatory guidance for identifying infant hearing loss exist in 41 states, Guam, and the District of Columbia.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the progress of newborn and infant hearing loss identification efforts.
- To analyze Early Hearing Detection and Intervention (EHDI) surveillance data from 1999-2007.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of Early Hearing Detection and Intervention (EHDI) surveillance data collected by the CDC.
- Examination of data from 1999-2007, noting limitations in data comparability between 1999-2004 and 2005-2007.
Main Results:
- Infant screening rates increased substantially, from 46.5% in 1999 to 97.0% in 2007.
- The number of infants identified with hearing loss increased by nearly 500 between 2001 and 2007 in reporting states.
- Progress was observed in achieving screening, evaluation, and intervention benchmarks.
Conclusions:
- EHDI programs demonstrate progress in identifying infants with hearing loss.
- Continued efforts are necessary to ensure timely services for infants diagnosed with hearing loss.
Abstract:
Congenital hearing loss affects two to three infants per 1,000 live births. Undetected hearing loss can delay speech and language development. A total of 41 states, Guam, and the District of Columbia have statutes or regulatory guidance to identify infants with hearing loss. All states and U.S. territories also have established Early Hearing Detection and Intervention (EHDI) programs, which embody evidence-based public health policy for addressing infant hearing loss. EHDI programs help ensure that newborns and infants are screened and receive recommended follow-up through data collection and outreach to hospitals, providers, and families. To determine the status of efforts to identify newborns and infants with hearing loss, CDC analyzed EHDI surveillance data from 1999-2007. Differences in how data were reported and collected limit comparability between 1999-2004 and 2005-2007 data; however, available data indicated an increase in infants screened from 46.5% in 1999 to 97.0% in 2007. In addition, the number of infants documented with hearing loss in 2007 increased by nearly 500 infants among the same 21 states reporting data in 2001 (1,736 identified in 2001 versus 2,212 in 2007). These findings demonstrate progress toward achieving benchmarks for screening, evaluation, and intervention and document the continued need to ensure infants receive recommended services in a timely manner.
