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Eligibility | Program Overview | Netcare

Eligibility

All infants born in Alberta are offered screening for permanent congenital hearing loss.

A referral is not needed for hearing screening when an infant is born in an inpatient setting.

Infants born out of hospital through midwifery services are referred by the midwife to help ensure these infants are identified and scheduled for screening in the community.

Infants born with bilateral aural atresia, meningitis or a priority risk factor for delayed-onset hearing loss are referred to Audiology Services for a diagnostic assessment.

Infants who pass their hearing screening and have a routine risk factor for delayed-onset hearing loss are also referred to Audiology Services for follow-up.

If a parent is concerned about their infant’s hearing after screening has occurred, a referral should be made to Audiology Services for a hearing assessment using the Alberta Referral Directory.

For more information, view Alberta Referral Directory. 

Program Overview

Permanent Congenital Hearing Loss (PCHL) 

The EHDI Program aims to identify permanent congenital hearing loss (PCHL) in one (unilateral) or both (bilateral) ears. The hearing loss may be sensorineural (including auditory neuropathy spectrum disorder), conductive or mixed in nature.

Information & Screening Offer

During pregnancy and after birth, families are provided with information about the EHDI Program.  They are offered hearing screening after the birth of their infant. 

Newborn Hearing Screening

Screening is offered in all Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICU), most inpatient postpartum units and select community health centres. 

Most infants born in hospital will receive an offer of screening before discharge.

Infants born at home or who are born at a facility that does not offer hearing screening or who were discharged before screening took place will be offered screening in the community.

The hearing screening tests used by the EHDI Program are Automated Transient Evoked Otoacoustic Emissions (ATEOAE) and Automated Auditory Brainstem Response (AABR).

Results and information on the next steps are provided to families following the hearing screening.

Diagnostic Hearing Assessment

Infants who do not pass their hearing screening, have an exception to screening or a priority risk factor are referred to Audiology Services for a diagnostic assessment. The diagnostic assessment is conducted by an audiologist to confirm or rule out permanent hearing loss.

Diagnostic assessments are available across the province at select sites in larger city centres.

If permanent hearing loss is identified, the family will receive the diagnosis, including the functional impact and characteristics of their child’s hearing loss, and next steps are discussed.

Intervention Services

If permanent hearing loss is identified, support services and intervention options are offered to and coordinated with families. The services that support the needs of a family and their child may vary due to the characteristics of hearing loss and intervention(s) chosen.

Netcare

Hearing screening and diagnostic ABR assessment results are available on Netcare, making it easier for providers to support parents.  

Providers can support families by speaking to parents about the importance of screening and encouraging them to attend follow-up appointments.

Early detection and access to intervention is crucial for optimizing language, brain development and overall health outcomes for infants with hearing loss.