Louisiana Early Hearing Detection Intervention Program: For Families & Caregivers

Communication is Key

Language is how your baby learns, and communication and language development begin at birth. Babies use sounds and movements to communicate before one year of age, regardless of their hearing level. It is important to find out your baby’s hearing level as early as possible so that you can figure out the best way to communicate and bond with your child. Children who are deaf or hard of hearing (D/HH) may need to learn other ways of communicating, such as sign language.

All babies should have their hearing screened as newborns. If the hearing screening shows that your baby needs further testing, it is very important that you attend your baby’s rescreening appointment. If rescreening shows that your baby needs more testing, your family will be connected with an audiologist for special testing.

If your baby is identified as deaf or hard of hearing, they need to receive support and early intervention services so they can learn, grow, and thrive. Your baby should receive these services as soon as possible— at least before your baby is six months old, but earlier is better! The Louisiana Early Hearing Detection and Intervention Program and its partner programs can help guide you through the process and ensure you, your child, and your family receive the support you need.

You are the best advocate for your child, so if at any point you become concerned about your child’s hearing, talk with your baby’s doctor to request another hearing screening. Use these milestones to see if your child is on track.

 

The Hearing Screening & Intervention Process: What to Expect

Before One Month Old: Hearing Screening

Newborn hearing screening measures your baby’s auditory (hearing) system response when they hear sounds. All babies are required to get a hearing screening before they leave the hospital. If your baby is not screened before going home, or is born at home, they should be screened before they are one month old. While newborn hearing screening does not determine if your baby is deaf or hard of hearing, it will let you know if your baby needs more testing.

Resources for families with children who...

By Three Months Old: Diagnosis

If your baby needs additional testing following rescreening, they should see a pediatric audiologist. Pediatric audiologists have specialized knowledge on working with you and your baby, and using diagnostic tools to determine a child’s hearing levels.

If your baby needs additional testing after rescreening, it is essential they receive diagnostic testing to determine their hearing level. If it is determined that your child does have hearing differences, the audiologist will counsel with you on next steps and notify the Louisiana Early Hearing Detection and Intervention program. The Louisiana Early Hearing Detection and Intervention program will call to connect you to services that can help support your child’s language skills and overall development. 

Before Six Months Old: Early Intervention 

 

If your baby is identified as deaf or hard of hearing, with your consent, the Louisiana Early Hearing Detection and Intervention program will link you to early intervention services and family-to-family support. The organizations listed in the next section will reach out to you to provide support and guidance.

Resources for families with children who are...

 

 

What if My Baby is Diagnosed as Deaf or Hard of Hearing?

If your baby is identified as deaf or hard of hearing (D/HH), we can provide some great resources and support services to help guide you through this process. Upon diagnosis, the following organizations will reach out to you:

  • Guidance, Outreach, and Language Development program: Through the GOLD program, you and your child can work with a certified teacher of the deaf who will deliver family education and support regarding language development, communication, amplification devices, services in the region, and transition into school. Services are family-centered and take advantage of the child’s earliest years in order to ensure optimal language development.

  • EarlySteps: Through EarlySteps, your child can be enrolled in early intervention services and connect with providers who will help your child learn new language and communication skills. While there are many types of specialists in the EarlySteps program, providers that commonly support children who are deaf and hard of hearing and their families include special instructors and speech-language pathologists.

  • Louisiana Hands and Voices Guide by Your Side: Through LA Hands and Voices, you can receive family-to-family support from a trained Parent Guide that will listen and share their story with you. You can also connect with an adult who is D/deaf or hard of hearing who has undergone specialized training to serve as a DHH Guide, where you can learn from lived experience and ask questions.

Visit our Additional Resources page to learn how you and your family can communicate with your child through resources related to Listening and Spoken Language, American Sign Language, Cued Speech, Total Communication, and more.  

Early Intervention

Early intervention for babies identified as deaf or hard of hearing is at the heart of the Louisiana Early Hearing Detection and Intervention program. If your child was recently identified as deaf or hard of hearing, the Early Hearing Detection and Intervention Program will link you to providers to create an individualized plan for your family. The plan will include services and resources to help your baby develop their language and communication skills.

The Louisiana Early Hearing Detection and Intervention team will link you to providers that will help create a plan for your family. This group of providers will be your early intervention and support team. The partnership between you and your team will focus on meeting the needs of your family so that your baby can communicate and bond with as many important people in their life as possible. The plan will include services and resources that will help your baby learn language and communication skills to keep their development on track. Early intervention professionals are trained in a variety of disciplines and include:

  • Speech/Language Pathologists (SLP): A speech/language pathologist can help your family learn to support your child’s language and communication skills, like gesturing, talking, listening, and understanding.

  • Audiologists: An audiologist can identify your baby’s hearing level, fit them for hearing aids, program cochlear implants, and help you understand why early access to communication is important.

  • Teachers of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing: A teacher of the deaf or hard of hearing is an educator who has special knowledge about working with children who are deaf or hard of hearing. They understand how your child learns, their unique needs, and will teach you and your baby skills to help promote language and communication growth.

  • Early Childhood Specialists: An early childhood specialist is a teacher trained to understand and support the social, emotional, and cognitive development of young children, sometimes called a special instructor. They will help create a plan for your child and family and ensure you have access to resources and services to help your baby learn and grow.

Early intervention professionals are trained in a variety of disciplines and include:

  • Speech/Language Pathologists (SLP): A SLP will help your child with language development, whether that be spoken language or sign language.

  • Audiologists: Audiologists can identify your baby’s hearing level, fit them for hearing aids, and program cochlear implants.

  • Deaf Educators: A deaf educator understands how deaf or hard of hearing children learn and will teach you and your baby skills to help promote language, communication, and listening.

  • Early Childhood Specialists: These specialists will help create a plan for your child and family and make sure you have access to resources and services that will help your baby learn and grow.

Check out babyhearing.org to learn more about other people you may work with through early intervention services.

Find an Audiologist

Contact

For more info, contact the Louisiana Early Hearing Detection and Intervention Program at [email protected] or 504-599-1086. 

Surgeon General Ralph L. Abraham, M.D.

Secretary Bruce D. Greenstein

Powered by Cicero Government