Louisiana Early Hearing Detection and Intervention (LA EHDI) Program

Communication is Key 

The Louisiana Early Hearing Detection and Intervention (LA EHDI) program supports coordinated systems of care that ensure families of babies and children who are deaf or hard-of-hearing (D/HH) receive appropriate and timely services. These services include hearing screening, diagnosis, early intervention (EI) and family-to-family support. The goal of the EHDI program is to ensure that children who are deaf or hard of hearing are identified through hearing screening and receive diagnosis and appropriate early intervention to optimize language, literacy, cognitive, social, and emotional development.

Communication and language development begin at birth. Babies use sounds and movements to communicate before one year of age, regardless of how well they can hear. Children who are identified as deaf or hard of hearing and enrolled in early intervention benefit from many learning opportunities that help develop the communication and language skills they need to learn, grow, and thrive. 

It is important to identify a baby's hearing level as early as possible so families can figure out the best way to communicate with them. Hearing screening is the first step in finding out if a child is deaf or hard of hearing. Louisiana law mandates that all babies be screened prior to hospital discharge. EHDI follows the Joint Committee on Infant Hearing's Position Statement and national benchmarks for hearing screening no later than 1 month of age, diagnosis no later than 3 months of age for infants who did not pass the screening, and enrollment in early intervention services no later than 6 months of age for those identified as D/HH. Enrollment in early intervention as soon as possible plays an important part in helping children who are deaf or hard of hearing reach their full potential.

The state-mandated Advisory Council for the Early Identification of Deaf and Hard of Hearing Infants meets quarterly to provide guidance to the Louisiana Early Hearing Detection and Intervention program. The Council is comprised of Deaf representatives, parents of children who are deaf or hard of hearing, and Healthcare and Educational Professionals. For information about meetings and vacancies, please visit the Family Health Boards and Commissions page.

Primary Program Functions

• Provide oversight of newborn hearing screening and tracking of audiological and early intervention services.
• Evaluate newborn hearing screening performance at each birthing facility.
• Provide Newborn Hearing Screening Guidelines, Physician Rescreening Guidelines, and Pediatric Audiology Guidelines for providers who perform hearing screenings and tests.
• Train providers to use the LA EHDI Information System to report follow-up testing and view test history.
• Contact and support families of children who are in need of follow-up hearing testing.
• Connect parents of children who are deaf or hard of hearing to parent-to-parent support Louisiana Hands and Voices and early intervention services provided by the Parent Pupil Education Program (PPEP) and EarlySteps

Funding

EHDI is funded by The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), and the Title V Maternal and Child Health (MCH) Block Grant.

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For Families and Caregivers

Learn more about the EHDI process, early intervention, and our recommended resources.

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For Healthcare Professionals and Providers

Explore tools and resources for birthing facilities, audiologists, and pediatricians.

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Additional Resources

Find resources related to communication options for D/deaf and hard of hearing people, as well as additional resources for Early Hearing Detection and Intervention.

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Partners For Family Health Data Center

View our fact sheets and data reports. You can also gain access to our data request form here.

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