Hearing Health

Just as every child is different, so are the signs and symptoms of hearing loss.

Hearing screening is simple and painless. Early screening ensures children early access to services to help them reach their full potential. Contact your child's doctor if you have any concerns about your child's hearing.

Vermont Early Hearing Detection & Intervention Program

The Vermont Early Hearing Detection & Intervention (VTEHDI) Program supports newborn and early periodic hearing screenings in collaboration with birth hospitals and other community providers, such as audiologists, early head start, homebirth midwives and primary care professionals. These partnerships ensure timely follow-up to screening and appropriate referrals for diagnostic hearing testing and early intervention services.

Hearing screening results are sent to the VTEHDI Program by health care professionals. Providers also send risk information on each baby related to late onset hearing loss. VTEHDI provides follow-up recommendations to families and clinicians for on-going hearing health care based on the identified risk factors.

As part of Children with Special Health Needs, VTEHDI provides support and care coordination for families and their babies throughout the newborn hearing screening process; plus training and technical support to hospitals and community providers. VTEHDI works with state and national agencies and organizations to achieve the National 1,3,6 EHDI goals, which are:

Screen before 1 month
Diagnose before 3 months
Early Intervention before 6 months

A Roadmap for Families through Screening, Diagnostics and Intervention

1- Newborn Hearing Screening, and Rescreening When Needed, Should Be Completed Before 1 Month of Age

Newborn Hearing screening

All babies born in Vermont are offered a newborn hearing screening by their birth facility prior to discharge or their homebirth midwife. Newborns that did not have a hearing screening at birth or did not pass the first screening can schedule an outpatient hearing screening. See list of outpatient hearing screening options below.

Newborn Hearing Screening brochure. Also available in Français (French), العربية (Arabic) and Swahili.

Passing newborn hearing screening at birth does not mean a child will always have normal hearing. Review the risk factors list available in the quick links section for reasons why monitoring hearing after passing the newborn screening is recommended.

newborn outpatient hearing screening

Babies who did not receive a hearing screening at birth or did not pass the initial hearing screening in one or both ears will need an outpatient hearing appointment. This appointment should occur as soon as possible and before 1 month of age.

Find an outpatient hearing screening or testing appointment

Hospital Outpatient Hearing Screening Appointments: some Vermont hospitals offer outpatient hearing screenings for newborns. Contact them directly to schedule.
Regional Pediatric Audiology Practices: facilities and providers in Vermont and neighboring states that offer hearing evaluations for children.
EHDI-PALS - find a Hearing Facility- national directory and website that provides information about childhood hearing to support families and professionals through the process of screening, diagnosis, and intervention.

3- Diagnostic Testing with a Pediatric Audiologist Should Be Completed Before 3 Months of Age

Newborn diagnostic hearing testing

Any baby who does not pass the screening, in one or both ears, should have a diagnostic hearing evaluation with a pediatric audiologist as soon as possible and before 3 months of age.

Find a diagnostic pediatric audiology appointment

Regional Pediatric Audiology Practices: facilities and providers in Vermont and neighboring states that offer hearing evaluations for children.
EHDI-PALS - a national directory and website that provides information about childhood hearing to support families and professionals through the process of screening, diagnosis, and intervention.

6- Specialized Early Intervention Services for Babies Who Are Deaf or Hard of Hearing Should Start Before 6 Months of Age

early intervention for babies who are deaf or hard of hearing

Babies diagnosed as Deaf or Hard of Hearing, in one or both ears should be referred immediately to early intervention and begin services as soon as possible and before 6 months of age.

How does a baby get referred and enrolled in EI after being diagnosed as Deaf or Hard of Hearing?

The audiologist who diagnoses the child will share information about the early intervention programs and services then ask for parent/ guardian consent to refer their child to early intervention.

The audiologist sends in a referral to Children’s Integrated Services and the Parent Infant Program.

Children's Integrated Services - Early Intervention (CIS - EI) - CIS offers early intervention, family support, and prevention services that help ensure the healthy development and well-being of children, pre-birth to age 5. Services are available at low or no cost to families.
Parent Infant Program (PIP) - this program provides early intervention services for Vermont families and their children (0-3) who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing. This program is a part of the VTEHDI program and one of the many programs under the Deaf Hard of Hearing Deaf Blind Educational Services Program (DHHDBESP).

The family will be contacted by both CIS-EI and PIP to discuss next steps and services.

Resources for Families Whose Child is Deaf or Hard of Hearing

This section provides a list of national and local resources and programs. The VTEHDI Program aims to provide information that supports families without bias regarding communication and early intervention.

A Parent's Guide to Hearing Loss - Center for Disease Control and Prevention website that will give you information about programs and services to help you and your child.

Communicate with your child

Cued Speech Association of New England (NCSA) supports a community of cuers who have come together to promote language accessibility Cued Speech

EHDI PALS Family Resources - national directory and website that provides information about childhood hearing to support families and professionals through the process of screening, diagnosis, and intervention.

Direct Links to EHDI-PALS Family Resources:

Hands & Voices Waiting Room - this site was created for families with children who have been referred to or are in the care of an audiologist and who are receiving those services through technology or “telehealth”.

Identifying and Supporting Children with Combined Vision and Hearing Loss in Vermont - brochure for families with or who may be concerned about a child with combined vision and hearing loss.

Just in Time - a list of national resources to help families of children who are deaf or hard of hearing (DHH) connect to family-to-family supports.

Say Yes to Early Intervention - infographic resource on the importance of Early Intervention as soon as you have a confirmed diagnosis.

Ten Essential Principles for Effective Education of Students Who are Deaf and Hard of Hearing - based on Optimizing Outcomes for Students who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing Educational Service Guidelines from the National Association of State Directors of Special Education (NASDSE)

The Care Project (TCP) - provides emotional support for families with children who are deaf and hard of hearing through use of counseling tools, family retreats and advocacy experiences.

TCP and VTEHDI hosted a family treat in 2017 in Burke, VT where participants were invited to record their family’s journey at the retreat.

One Family's Journey

TCP National Family Retreat Initiative: Vermont/LePlantes

Vermont Family Network (VFN) - The mission of VFN is to empower and support all Vermont children, youth, and families, especially those with disabilities or special health needs. We do this by giving a strong start, lifting family voices, and advancing inclusive communities.

Vermont Hands & Voices - a state chapter of Hands & Voices; a parent-driven organization that supports families with children who are deaf or hard of hearing, without bias as to communication modes or methodology.

Early Intervention and School Age Services that Support Deaf, Hard of Hearing, and DeafBlind Children

Alina Mills, M.S. CCC/SLP - Speech-Language Pathologist- Early intervention services for children that are deaf and hard of hearing using hearing aids and/or cochlear implants. Support for families includes information, training, and guidance in the development of language and communication, auditory skills, and use of hearing technology. Call 802-338-7941 or email: [email protected]

Deaf, Hard of Hearing and DeafBlind Educational Services Program (DHHDBESP) is housed within the University of Vermont Medical Center (UVMMC). The focus of this program is to ensure that children and students (age 0 to 21), regardless of their communication needs, have the appropriate services, consultation and equipment needed to be successful in their home and/or school environment. The following are provided in both remote and in-person services:

Early Intervention:

The Parent Infant Program (PIP) is a statewide early intervention program that serves deaf and hard of hearing children, birth to age three and their families. Support and training are provided to families around their children’s hearing and communication needs to help ensure they reach their full language and learning potential. Visits are provided remotely and in-person within the child’s home and/or childcare center. PIP works collaboratively with Children's Integrated Services (CIS) and audiologists throughout Vermont.

Parent Infant Program (PIP) Brochure

School Age Services:

Educational interpreting
Communication facilitation
Sign language instruction to families, students, and school teams.
Direct instruction from teachers of the Deaf/Hard of Hearing focusing on academic and self-advocacy needs
Educational audiology services

The CDCI CARES Team: provides Consultation for Access, Resources, and Equipment Support to students (3-22) who are Deaf, Hard of Hearing, or DeafBlind (DHHDB) and their school teams.

Vancro Intergrated Interpreting Services

Vermont Telecommunication Relay Services (Dial 7-1-1) - a free service that enables people who are Deaf, Hard of Hearing, DeafBlind or those with a Speech Disability to place and receive phone calls.

quick links for families and health care providers

Information About Hearing Loss in Children for Health Professionals CDC
Risk factors for late-onset hearing loss
Principles and Guidelines for Early Hearing Detection and Intervention Programs (Joint Commission on Infant Hearing 2019 Position Statement)

New Users: Please fax a signed Provider Confidentiality Agreement to 802-951-1218

New Users: Quick Reference Guide For Providers on how to use the application.

Password Management System Information and Access

The Vermont Department of Health uses a user-controlled password management system. This password management system was created to ensure system security and compliance with HIPAA regulations.:

Participating in Password Management is required, so we encourage you to sign up as soon as possible. Enrollment should take less than five minutes. Using the link below enter your email address used to create your account, an email will be sent to you with a link to reset your password. Click on the link in the email which will open the password reset screen where you enter new password twice and submit..

Password Management System

Password Management System Instructions and User Guide: