Early Hearing Detection and Intervention (EHDI) Partner Toolkit

At a glance

May is National Speech-Language-Hearing Month. Join us as we raise awareness about the importance of timely hearing screening, diagnosis, and intervention on a child's development of communication, language, and social skills. This Toolkit provides free Early Hearing Detection and Intervention (EHDI) messaging and resources, including social media content and educational materials.

National Speech-Language-Hearing Month

Partner with Us

Join us as a National Speech-Language-Hearing Month partner by using your voice and platforms to raise awareness about the value of EHDI. See tips below for engaging your audiences by using EHDI messaging, tagging the CDC on social media platforms, starting conversations about deaf or hard of hearing data, and sharing CDC's EHDI website and resources.

Key messages

  • Thousands of babies are born deaf or hard of hearing each year in the United States.
  • Without timely screening, diagnosis, and intervention, a child may face significant delays in speech, language, social, and emotional development.
  • Families, pediatric healthcare providers, and hearing specialists all play a role in getting a child’s hearing assessed in a timely manner and can help ensure prompt enrollment in intervention when necessary.
    • Parents: If you think your child might be deaf or hard of hearing, talk with your doctor as soon as possible. Don't wait! If your child does not pass a hearing screening, ask their doctor for a full hearing test as soon as possible.
    • Providers: ensure that children who do not pass their newborn hearing screen are diagnosed and enrolled in early intervention by reporting a child's diagnostic and follow-up data to their state's EHDI program.
  • There are different types of communication options and interventions available for children who are DHH. With help from healthcare providers and intervention specialists, and speaking with other parents with children who are DHH, families can navigate what works best for them.

Timely hearing assessment and intervention‎

The recommended EHDI benchmarks are hearing screening by 1 month of age, confirmed diagnosis by 3 months of age, and enrollment in early intervention by 6 months of age.
EHDI 1-3-6 Benchmarks

Examples of how to engage audiences

  • Posting EHDI awareness graphics and messages and using the hashtags:
    • #SpeechLanguageHearingMonth
    • #EHDI
    • #SpeechLanguageHearingAwareness
    • #DeafAndHardOfHearing
  • Tagging us at @CDC_NCBDDD on X (formerly Twitter)
  • Starting conversations about deaf or hard of hearing (DHH) data:
    • "What are some benefits in reporting data to your state EHDI program?"
    • "How has your data improved service delivery to children who are DHH?"
  • Sharing CDC's EHDI website: Hearing Loss in Children | CDC

Social media

Use these sample posts and graphics on your organization’s handles to promote screening, diagnosis, and enrollment in early intervention services. Engage with your audiences and equip them to better support early intervention for DHH children.

Facebook

Sample post: DYK? People of all ages can be deaf or hard of hearing, including babies and young children. Early intervention can help: https://bit.ly/3UIA1ys

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Young child plays with toys on the floor while parent looks on. Text reads, “National Speech Language Hearing Month” 
Join us as we raise awareness during National Speech-Language-Hearing Month.

X (Twitter)

Sample post: When babies are diagnosed early as deaf or hard of hearing, they can receive early intervention services to develop language and social skills that can help them succeed in school and beyond. https://bit.ly/3UIA1ys #SpeechLanguageHearingAwareness #EHDI 

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Parent and young child play with toys while sitting at a table. Text reads, “National Speech Language Hearing Month” 
Join us as we raise awareness during National Speech-Language-Hearing Month.

Sample Post: What happened next for babies who were diagnosed as deaf or hard of hearing in 2021? CDC's latest data tells us how many were enrolled in early intervention. Click to find the answer and more: https://bit.ly/3HMUwEd #SpeechLanguageHearingAwareness #EHDI 

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Baby has hearing tested while being held in their parent’s arms. Text reads, “Early Hearing Detection and Intervention Latest Data Release”
Be sure to get a hearing screening by month 1, diagnose as DHH by month 3, and enroll in intervention by month 6

Spanish

Sample Post: Cuando se identifica la pérdida auditiva en un nino temprano, los bebés pueden recibir servicios de intervención temprana para desarrollar destrezas sociales y de lenguaje que los ayudarán a tener éxito en la escuela y más adelante. https://bit.ly/4dWOlw6 #MesDelHablaElLenguajeYLaAudición #ConcientizaciónSobreElHablaElLenguajeYLaAudición #EHDI

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Niños juegan con juguetes en una mesa mientras una madre sonríe en el fondo. El texto dice: "Mes Nacional del Habla, el Lenguaje y la Audición"
Mes Nacional del Habla, el Lenguaje y la Audición

Instagram

Sample Post: Parents: After a hearing screening and diagnosis, you likely have a lot of questions. CDC offers a free guide to help you learn about the diagnosis, service and support options, and more: https://bit.ly/3VimkYr #SpeechLanguageHearingMonth #SpeechLanguageHearingAwareness #EHDI

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Newborn has their hearing tested. Text reads, “National Speech Language Hearing Month” 
All infants should be screened for hearing loss before 1 month of age.

Sample Post: Parents: You know your child best. If you think your child may have trouble hearing, talk to their doctor right away. https://bit.ly/3x45hQB #SpeechLanguageHearingMonth #SpeechLanguageHearingAwareness #EHDI

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Illustration of a baby with their head turned. Text says that babies who are deaf or hard of hearing may not startle at loud noises, turn their head toward a sound, or appear to hear all sounds.
Learn more if you are concerned about your baby's hearing.

Spanish

Sample Post: Padres: ustedes conocen a su hijo/a mejor que nadie. Si creen que su hijo/a podría tener problemas de audición, hablen con su médico de inmediato. https://bit.ly/4c0EC6l #MesDelHablaElLenguajeYLaAudición #ConcientizaciónSobreElHablaElLenguajeYLaAudición #EHDI

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Ilustración con texto que muestra los signos de la sordera y los problemas de audición en los bebés. Los bebés con sordera o problemas de audición podrían no sobresaltarse ante sonidos fuertes, no voltear la cabeza hacia un sonido o dar la impresión de que escuchan todos los sonidos
Mes Nacional del Habla, el Lenguaje y la Audición

Facebook

Sample Post: Parents: You know your baby best. If your baby does not startle at loud noises or seems to hear some noises but not others, talk to their doctor about hearing testing. Find out more about what you can expect: https://bit.ly/3x45hQB

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Baby receives hearing test while sitting on parent’s lap. Text reads, “National Speech Language Hearing Month” 
Learn more during National Speech Language Hearing Month.

Spanish

Sample Post: Padres: si su hijo tiene pérdida auditiva, probablemente tengan muchas preguntas. Los CDC ofrecen una guía gratuita para ayudarles a entender los tipos de pérdida auditiva, las opciones de servicios y apoyo, y más: https://bit.ly/452NKoL

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A man and woman holding their son and smiling, "Mes National del Habla, el Lenguaje yla Audicion"
Mes National del Habla, el Lenguaje yla Audicion

LinkedIn

Sample Post: Pediatricians: New parents and caregivers may have lots of questions during their first office visits. Be sure parents understand the results of their newborn’s hearing screening and the importance of additional testing if needed. Early diagnosis and intervention lead to better overall child development. https://bit.ly/4br9Q6M

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Baby has hearing tested while sitting on parent’s lap. Text reads, “National Speech Language Hearing Month” 
Reminder of the importance of hearing screening by month 1, diagnose as DHH by month 3, and enroll in intervention by month 6

Sample Post: HCPs: Reporting data on infant hearing screening, diagnosis, and early intervention is important to help ensure all children with hearing loss receive services as early as possible. https://bit.ly/3KYyxMt

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Baby has hearing tested while sitting on parent’s lap. Text reads, “National Speech Language Hearing Month” 
Reminder of the importance of hearing screening by month 1, diagnose as DHH by month 3, and enroll in intervention by month 6

Sample Post: Public health professionals: Early intervention services can help infants who are deaf or hard of hearing develop language and social skills, but only about 6 in 10 are documented as enrolled. Find CDC's latest data to help you plan outreach in your state: https://bit.ly/3OoRhXm

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Young child plays with toys while parent looks on during early intervention services. Text reads, “Early Hearing Detection and Intervention Latest Data Release”
Reminder of the importance of hearing screening by month 1, diagnose as DHH by month 3, and enroll in intervention by month 6

Resources

Share these related resources with your audiences to raise awareness about hearing screening, diagnosis, and enrollment in early intervention services:

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Content Source:
National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities (NCBDDD)