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Early Hearing Detection and Intervention Program

Resources & Forms

State Resources for Parents and Providers

Birth to Three supports families that have concerns about their children’s development. The mission of the Connecticut Birth to Three system is to strengthen the capacity of Connecticut’s families to meet the developmental and health-related needs of their infants and toddlers who have delays or disabilities. Go to https://www.birth23.org/ for more information or to refer a child to Birth to Three.

The Child Development Infoline (CDI) supports children’s healthy growth and development starting from pregnancy. CDI is a specialized unit of United Way of Connecticut. Care coordinators are available to answer the phone Monday through Friday, 8am-6pm, except on holidays. Messages can be left 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and are returned promptly. This service is free and confidential, and with both multi-lingual and TTY capacity. To learn more about the Child Development Infoline, call 1-800-505-7000 or go to https://cdi.211ct.org/

The Connecticut Department of Public Health (DPH) - Children and Youth with Special Health Care Needs Program (CYSHCN) are those children and youth, 0-21 years, who have or are at increased risk for a chronic physical, developmental, behavioral, or emotional condition and require health and related services beyond that required for children in general. For more information visit the website at the Connecticut Medical Initiative for CYSHCN or call Children Development Infoline at 1-800-505-7000.

The Connecticut Department of Public Health (DPH) - Newborn Screening Program works to assure that every baby born in Connecticut receives a newborn screening (NBS) blood-spot test. The blood is sent to the state public health lab where it is tested for over 60 health problems. Those infants with abnormal screening results are promptly referred to a specialty treatment center for further evaluation and treatment when needed.

The Connecticut Family Support Network (CTFSN) helps families raising children with disabilities and special healthcare needs, and the professionals who work with them, find information, resources, and supports to improve their lives. They provide help to families and others by: connecting one-on-one with parents to provide emotional support, advocacy and guidance; holding workshops and trainings; empowering families to become effective and successful advocates; offering support groups; and sharing current information and resources. Go to www.ctfsn.org or call toll free 877-FSN-2DAY (877-376-2329) to learn about these free services.

CT Hands & Voices is a parent run, non-profit organization that is dedicated to supporting families with children who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing without a bias around communication modes or methodology. They operate Guide By Your Side (GBYS) ™ which is a parent matching program, linking parents of children throughout the state who have been newly identified as hard of hearing, deaf or deaf blind with trained and experienced “Parent Guides”.

National Resources for Parents and Providers

The Early Hearing Detection & Intervention - Pediatric Audiology Links to Services (EHDI-PALS ) is a national directory of pediatric audiology facilities that offers services to children with a hearing loss, who are under five years of age.

The National Center for Hearing Assessment and Management Utah State University (NCHAM) serves as the National Technical Resource Center for the implementation and improvement of EHDI systems. Their goal is to ensure that all infants and toddlers with hearing loss are identified as early as possible and provided with timely and appropriate audiological, educational, and medical intervention.

For Parents

Listen Up! A Parent Guide to Newborn Hearing Screening. Click here for the Spanish version of the brochure. This brochure is for parents and explains the newborn hearing screening process, provides information and resources around hearing loss, and includes a checklist of age appropriate speech, hearing and behaviors.

Your Baby Needs Another Hearing Test/About Congenital Cytomegalovirus (CMV) Testing. Click here for the Spanish version of this brochure. This brochure provides information and resources to parents whose baby did not pass the newborn hearing screening, including information on Cytomegalovirus (CMV) screening.

*IMPORTANT* Family Plan of Care for Infants\Children Who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing. A tool for families to help them compile and share information about their child as it relates to their hearing loss. Parents can print this template and bring it to all medical appointments to record important health updates, as well as to share with providers. Print as needed.

The Connecticut Early Hearing Detection and Intervention Task Force handout How’s My Child Doing? How Hearing, Language, & Speech Are Connected. A handout that gives families guidance on their child’s hearing, language, and speech through 3 years of age.