Birth (0-36 Months)

Newborn Hearing Screening

Before your baby goes home from the hospital, his or her hearing is screened by a trained professional.  A newborn hearing screening is a safe and painless method to test whether or not a baby can hear well. Parents are provided results of the hearing screening before the baby leaves the hospital. The purpose of identifying newborns with hearing loss is to prevent or minimize the effects of hearing loss on language development, academic performance, and cognitive development through appropriate early intervention services. Children who have trouble hearing and do not promptly receive extra care and assistance may have difficulty learning and communicating with others. The earlier a child is diagnosed as having hearing loss and receives appropriate services, the more likely he or she will develop learning and language skills similar to children who do not have a hearing loss. Each year in the United States, as many as 3 to 5 babies out of each 1,000 born, are deaf or hard of hearing.  It’s important to screen all babies shortly after they’re born because babies are not able to tell us if they can’t hear. For more information about newborn hearing screening, visit http://www.doh.state.fl.us/cms/nbscreen-hearing.html.
 

SHINE – Serving Hearing Impaired Newborns Effectively

Children's Medical Services - Early Steps Program
SHINE - Serving Hearing Impaired Newborns Effectively

SHINE is the component of the Florida Early Steps Program that provides early intervention services to families of children with hearing impairment. SHINE services provide parents with information and support shortly after the hearing loss of their infant or toddler has been confirmed. SHINE providers in conjunction with Hearing Specialists work as part of a team that provides assessment, ongoing intervention services, and evaluation of child progress to families and caregivers with the goal of meeting the unique communication and developmental needs of children who are Deaf or hard of hearing. 

Resources and Links:
 

• Beginnings for Parents of Children Who Are Deaf or Hard of Hearing
• STATE Agencies
• STATE Non-Governmental
• NATIONAL Agencies
• NON-Governmental Agencies