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The Role of an Audiologist in Hearing Screening and Diagnostic Evaluations

Audiologists determine whether a child has a hearing loss using a diagnostic audiologic evaluation. Babies that do not pass their newborn hearing screening should have this evaluation no later than 3 months of age.

What is the role of an Audiologist who performs newborn hearing rescreens?

-Ensure that the rescreen is completed using the same technology as the initial hearing screen and follows EHDI Best Practice Rescreen Guidelines .

-Ensure that babies that do not pass the rescreen are referred to a Pediatric Diagnostic Facility for a diagnostic hearing test using our Best Practice Guidelines. Parents should be given the EHDI Diagnostic Center Handout and counseled on the differences between rescreening and diagnostic testing and the importance of going right away for more testing.

-Report results and follow-up attempts to the EHDI program.

What is the role of an audiologist who performs diagnostic hearing testing on newborns and young children:

  • Complete initial diagnostic audiologic evaluation using a battery of physiological testing procedures (JCIH 2007).
  • Report the results of the diagnostic audiologic hearing evaluation to the child’s PCP, including information that an infant was not successfully tested after being referred for testing.
  • Report to the EHDI program, using this form, the names of all children who received a diagnostic evaluation and those who were not successfully tested after being referred for a diagnostic evaluation. It is mandated that all hearing test and screens on babies less than 12 months of age and all diagnosed hearing losses in children under three years of age need to be reported to the EHDI program. For more information on the law please read Senate Bill No. 794, sec. 5432.
    Mandatory reporting law

If a baby has been identified as having permanent hearing loss:

  • Make a referral to the Early Intervention for children and report the date of the referral to the EHDI Program.
  • Provide parents with information about hearing and hearing loss, and communication and education options for children who are Deaf or Hard of hearing.

View the Best Practice Guideline for assessment of infants (birth to 6 months)
Best Practice Guideline for Audiologic Management of Infants and Toddlers (birth to 3 years)

How does an audiologist report to the Michigan Hearing Early Detection and Intervention (EHDI) program?

Audiologists should submit the Form or their audiology report to the EHDI program. This can be faxed or mailed in. The fax number is 517-763-0183. Our mailing address is:

MDHHS- EHDI
Attn: Erin Estrada
Elliott-Larsen Building 5-N
320 S. Walnut St.
Lansing, MI 48933

 

Brochure for families and providers: 

 

Information and Reporting forms for providers: 

 

Medical Clearance Form --This is a generic medical clearance form that can be used for any medical practice that needs to document medical clearance for a student's eligibility as a special education student and/or for medical clearance of personal amplification.  The form has an area for the diagnosis‚ checkboxes for no medical contraindications for amplification and hearing loss is considered to be lifelong and permanent.  This form can be modified to fit your specific practice if desired‚ please contact the EHDI program for the Microsoft Word version. 

For more information: