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Physicians

As a medical provider, you are a key part of the infant’s care team and of Oklahoma Early Hearing Detection and Intervention (EHDI). You play an important role in monitoring newborn hearing screening results and ensuring appropriate follow-up, whether that be an outpatient hearing screening or a diagnostic hearing evaluation, is completed in a timely manner.

Regardless of newborn hearing screening results, medical providers should review every infant’s medical and family history for known risk factors for late onset hearing loss. If risk factors are present, the family should be referred to a pediatric audiologist for routine hearing evaluations.

The goal of Oklahoma EHDI is to ensure all children birth to 3 years of age with hearing loss receive timely intervention to improve communication, education, and over all development. To accomplish this goal Oklahoma uses the 1-3-6 guideline. 

Physicians

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  • 1 Month: All infants should have a hearing screening by 1 month of age
  • 3 Months: If after two screenings the baby does not pass, a medical and hearing evaluation is needed before 3 months of age
  • 6 Months: If a hearing loss is detected, treatment and intervention should be started by 6 months of age

  • Newborn hearing screening results will be reported to the physician designated by the hospital on the filter paper. Please note that no contact does not mean normal results. If you verify abnormal screen results and have not been contacted, please call (405) 426-8309.
  • Newborn hearing screening results are located on the Newborn Screening Results web portal. 
  • For new user access or questions regarding the newborn screening results web portal, please call or email the public health lab:

Understanding Hearing Screening Results:

  • Pass:
    • No other testing is needed unless there is a risk factor for hearing loss 
  • Refer/Did not pass:
    • Additional testing is needed immediately
    • Please refer the family to a pediatric audiologist within one month of age

  • Oklahoma 310:540-1-3 requires that all hearing screening results are submitted within 7 days of the screening. This information is used to track newborns who do not pass their initial hearing screening and to encourage rescreening and diagnostic testing. 
  • OAC 310:540 states a parent may refuse the newborn hearing screening on the grounds that such examination conflicts with their religious tenets and/or practices; refusal of hearing screening shall be indicated in writing utilizing the Newborn Screening Program Refusal Form provided by the Department. The Newborn Screening Program Refusal Form must be completed in its entirety.

  • Family history of childhood hearing loss
  • NICU stay longer than 5 days
  • Hyperbilirubinemia with exchange transfusion
  • Use of certain antibiotics for more than 5 days
  • Asphyxia or Hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE)
  • In utero infections (herpes, rubella. Syphilis, toxoplasmosis)
  • Craniofacial anomalies
  • Certain Syndromes associated with hearing loss
  • ECMO
  • CMV
  • Encephalitis
  • Head trauma
  • Learn more about risk factors for hearing loss

Contact Information:

Mailing Address:
Oklahoma State Department of Health
Newborn Hearing Screening Program
123 Robert S. Kerr Ave., Suite 1702
Oklahoma City, OK 73102-6406

Phone: (405) 426-8309
Fax: (405) 900-7554
E-Mail: OSDH.newbornhearing@health.ok.gov