California Newborn Hearing Screening Program Overview
The
California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS),
Children's Medical Services (CMS) has implemented a statewide comprehensive
Newborn Hearing Screening Program (NHSP) under the
Health and Safety Code Sections relating to newborn hearing screening with amendments required by Assembly Bill (AB) 2651, Chapter 335, Statues of 2006. The NHSP helps identify hearing loss in infants and guide families to the appropriate services needed to develop communication skills.
Families of infants delivered in general acute care hospitals with licensed perinatal services which have been certified by DHCS to participate in the NHSP will have the opportunity to have their baby's hearing screened. Infants who do not pass the screening in the hospital will be referred for additional testing after discharge. DHCS is contracting with
Hearing Coordination Centers to work with the hospitals in developing hearing screening programs, to perform quality assurance activities, and to follow infants who need additional services.
For more information about the NHSP, please visit the
NHSP main webpage or contact the HCC in your area.
Helpful Links
