Newborn Hearing Screening
Bureau of Maternal and Infant Health
Division of Community Health & Prevention
Illinois Department of Human Services

Fact Sheets List

Program Page

Program Description

Target

All infants born in birthing hospitals in Illinois

Purpose

The purpose of the program is to identify infants born with congenital hearing loss and ensure they are provided with amplification devices and therapy by 6 months of age.

Services

IDHS, in collaboration with IDPH and the University of Illinois at Chicago's Division of Specialized Care for Children (DSCC), conducts this program to implement the Hearing Screening for Newborns Act (410 ILCS 213). Services include training for providers on screening and referral; parent information; diagnostic evaluation; and follow up.

Delivery Method

Newborns are screened before being sent home and the screening results are sent to IDPH. When screening indicates that the infant may not have normal hearing, the infant's parents and physician are notified so that the infant can be referred for diagnostic testing. These testing results are also reported to IDPH. Infants with diagnosed hearing loss are referred to DSCC and the Part C (Early Intervention) program for therapeutic services.

Program Data

SFY05 SFY06* SFY07* SFY08*
Program Expenditure (Numbers in 000's) $150.0 $150.0 $150.0 $150.0
Number Served 169,549 167,452 173,565 173,565

*FY06-08 Grantee is DSCC

Program Effectiveness

FY08

Statewide Screening Results
Grouping Count Percent
Total Screened 172,109 99%
Passed 165,678 96%
Referred 6,431 4%
Other (not screened, deceased) 1,547 .08%