The Hearing Screening & Intervention Process: What to Expect
Under Illinois law, hospitals are required to conduct a hearing screening on all newborns before they leave the hospital. While newborn screening can’t determine if your baby is deaf or hard of hearing, it will let you know if your baby needs more testing. If a baby requires follow-up testing after the initial hearing screening, they will need to be rescreened by an audiologist or an otolaryngologist, or ENT (ear, nose, throat) doctor. If you need help finding someone to conduct the follow-ups or other services, see the links below.
Referral Sources
Audiologists - An audiologist is a professional who diagnoses, treats, and manages individuals with hearing loss or balance problems. For more information, please visit: Â
To locate an audiologist:
Contact UIC Division of Specialized Care for Children at: 800-322-3722 to find a newborn hearing follow-up provider:
To search audiologists from across the country, please visit:
Otolaryngologists - Physicians trained in the medical and surgical management and treatment of patients with diseases and disorders of the ear, nose, and throat (ENT). For more information, please see:
The Center for Disease Control and Prevention Early Hearing Detection and Intervention Program provides free resources for families.
For a list of sample questions to ask providers visit the CDC website: