A Parent’s Guide Number 1: Your Baby Has Been Referred for More Hearing Screening…

What do I do next?

What Can I Do? 
Follow These Steps:
1. Get a 2nd hearing screening RIGHT AWAY.
If your baby did not pass the initial hearing screening, ensure your baby gets a second screening BEFORE he/she turns ONE MONTH OF AGE. 

On Guam, a FREE 2nd hearing screening may be performed at the Pediatric Evaluation and Developmental Services (PEDS) Center located at the University of Guam Dean Circle, House 17, through the Guam EHDI Project.

Please call 735-2466 for an appointment.


2. Helpful tips for a second hearing screening.
* The screening will be more effective and quicker if your baby is SLEEPING.
* Bring a pacifier or bottle to calm your baby, should he/she get restless or agitated.
* If your child has an ear infection or a cold, reschedule your appointment.

3. Don’t be afraid to ASK QUESTIONS and get MORE INFORMATION.
The more questions you ask, the more informed you will be about your baby’s health.

Places to start learning
For more information on hearing testing and early intervention, check the following web sites:

www.guamehdi.org
www.infanthearing.org
www.deafchildren.org
www.hearingexchange.com
www.agbell.org
www.babyhearing.org
www.cuedspeech.org
www.listen-up.org
www.johntracyclinic.org

With the right tools, children with a hearing loss SUCCEED in every area of life!


Hearing testing should be done anytime there is concern about a child’s hearing.
It has been shown that when a baby with hearing loss is identified before three months of age and begins receiving special services before six months of age, typical language, social, and educational development can be achieved. 

The earlier a hearing loss is detected and special services are provided, the better the chance of developing normal language skills. Unfortunately, because hearing loss is invisible, it is easily missed in the early months of life.

Communicating with your baby is a joyful experience. Whether or not your baby has a hearing loss, every baby needs lots of love and attention. Newborns need to be held, to have you look directly into their eyes, and spoken to in soothing tones. Even babies who can’t hear you respond to your touch and your eyes. 

Communicating using your voice, touch, and facial expression are important ways of interacting with your newborn.

If your baby has been referred for more hearing screening… 

A referral for more hearing screening means one of two things:
1. Your baby has no hearing loss but may have had a temporary condition such as fluid or wax in the ear canal during testing. Some referred babies may have middle ear fluid or an ear infection which can be medically treated. 

2. Your baby has a hearing loss. If this is the case, you now have the advantage of taking early steps to manage your baby’s hearing loss. The earlier you get a full hearing evaluation,
the better for your baby.


An audiological evaluation (hearing test) will show you if your baby has a hearing loss. 

If there is a loss, there is much you can do: get hearing aids; learn how to communicate with and teach your baby.

Any baby can develop a hearing loss later on, and some losses change. See an audiologist (hearing specialist) whenever you have a concern.

If you have questions about your baby’s hearing test, contact the:
Guam EHDI Project, Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities Education, Research, & Service (Guam CEDDERS), University of Guam, UOG Station, Mangilao, Guam 96923
Phone: (671) 735-2466
TDD/TTY: (671) 734-6531
Fax: (671) 734-5709
Email: nenehearing@guamehdi.org
Website: www.guamehdi.org


This brochure was produced by the Guam Early Hearing Detection and Intervention (Guam EHDI) Project, with 100% funding support from the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, Heath Resources and Services Administration, Grant #2H61MC00094-08-00, and facilitated by the University of Guam Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities Education, Research, & Service (Guam CEDDERS).

Acknowledgements:
State of Connecticut Department of Public Health, New Hampshire, Department of Health & Human Services, State of Tennessee, & Department of Health & Newborn Hearing Screening.

The University of Guam is an equal opportunity employer and provider.