Does Your Baby Have a Risk Factor for Being Identified as Deaf or Hard of Hearing?

It is important to determine if your child is deaf or hard of hearing as soon as possible because babies start learning how to communicate as soon as they are born. Some babies hear well enough to pass the hearing screen at birth but lose their hearing later. These babies often have risk factors, which means they have special characteristics or have had certain procedures or medications. Babies who pass their newborn hearing screen but are at risk of losing their hearing to one or more of these risk factors, should get a diagnostic hearing evaluation before 3 to 9 months of age. If your baby has any of the risk factors listed below, talk to your baby's doctor.

Risk Factors Include:

Contact EHDDI at ehddi2@doh.wa.gov or call 1-888-WAEHDDI (1-888-923-4334).