Hearing Screening

Children After the Newborn Period Through Age 20 Years

The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) Hearing Screening Training program provides the necessary skills to identify children in need of further diagnosis and treatment.

This website is for programs such as:

• Child and Teen Checkups (C&TC)
• Early Learning Programs (including Early Head Start and Head Start)
• Early Childhood Screening
• School programs
• Other wellness programs that screen children's hearing and vision

The Minnesota Early Hearing Detection and Intervention (EHDI) program ensures that all newborns are screened for hearing loss. Children need screening for hearing loss beyond the newborn period. Not all newborns receive recommended follow-up and not all hearing loss can be identified at birth. Continued periodic hearing screening programs are critical for identifying a wide range of hearing health needs not found though hospital-based newborn hearing screening programs.

Hearing screening is the most practical approach to identify children in need of professional services. Early identification and treatment can prevent or alleviate many of the problems that result from impaired hearing.

The MDH hearing screening recommendations found on this website are for screening children after the newborn hearing screening period (i.e., 2 months through 20 years). In addition to resources found on these MDH webpages, screening programs may refer to the Guidelines for Hearing Screening After the Newborn Period to Kindergarten Age, developed by EHDI, C&TC, and the EHDI community advisory committee. These guidelines provide tools for health history and hearing screening procedures, including pure tone audiometry, otoacoustic emissions screening, and tympanometry.