Rhode Island Department of HealthState of Rhode Island
Department of Health
Rhode Island Department of HealthState of Rhode Island
Department of Health
As a healthcare provider, you play a key role in ensuring early screening, diagnosis, and intervention for newborns and toddlers with hearing loss. Prompt follow-up on failed newborn hearing screenings is crucial to assure speech, language, and healthy brain development. The appropriate referral of infants diagnosed with hearing loss helps families receive timely and appropriate medical intervention and support. Refer to the Best Practice Guideline for Rhode Island Medical Home for complete details and guidelines.
All infants should receive:
Approximately one in ten infants who fail the newborn hearing screening has a permanent hearing loss. It is not safe to assume a failed hearing screening is due to fluid or debris.
If you need additional information or guidance, please contact the Rhode Island Newborn Hearing Screening Program.
Hospitals, audiologists, and service providers must report hearing screening and diagnostic results for every infant to the Rhode Island Newborn Hearing Screening Program through KIDSNET or by fax at 401-276-7813. Use KIDSNET to review screening and diagnostic results for every infant in your practice.
Approximately 1 to 3 babies out of 1,000 will be born with permanent hearing loss. Another 2 to 3 out of 1,000 will acquire a hearing loss after birth. Consistently monitor all infants, including those with a pass result, for auditory skills, middle ear status, and language developmental milestones as recommended by the Rhode Island Medicaid Early Periodic Screening Diagnosis and Treatment schedule.
