Newborn Hearing Screening and Intervention
Newborns in Montana are also screened by birthing facilities to detect hearing loss. Testing takes about 5 to 10 minutes and can be done while the baby is asleep or lying still. If the newborn does not pass the first hearing screening, another screen is performed. If this screening is not passed, the screening facility informs the parent and the baby's primary care provider that an audiologic assessment is recommended before the baby is three months of age. Because the early months of life are so important to the development of language, it is critical that an infant with a hearing loss be diagnosed before four months of age so appropriate intervention can be provided before six months of age.
To learn more about the Universal Newborn Hearing Screening and Intervention (UNHSI) program in Montana, click on the following links.
- UNHSI update
- Screening "Stars" for calendar year 2008
- State Law about Hearing Screening and Intervention Program (Montana Code Annotated 2011)
- Audiologists who perfom Pediatric Audiological Assessments
- 30 Second TV Spot
- Montana Guidelines for Newborn Hearing Screening and Pediatric Assessment
Screening training is now available on-line! The National Center for Hearing Assessment and Management (NCHAM) has a streaming video with sound on its web-site that provides training in eight (8) sections, each of which lasts between 5 and 13 minutes. The total time to view the sections takes about 70 minutes. It covers all of the critical information important for conducting high quality and efficient newborn hearing screening. There is a brief self-test at the end of each section to help you determine if you understood the material. If you have any questions about the training, please contact Shannon Koenig as shown below. Here is the connection to NCHAM’s on-line training: http://www.infanthearing.org/nhstc_dvd/streaming.html
For additional information contact
Shannon Koenig, Manager
Newborn Hearing Screening/Assessment Monitor
Family and Community Health Bureau
skoenig@mt.gov
(406)444-1216
