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Early Hearing Detection and Intervention

baby with doctor checking ears

Early Hearing Detection and Intervention

The health department provides newborn hearing screening tests at our health centers. Appointments are required. For more information or to make an appointment, please call 770-904-3717.

Why Early Hearing Screening Matters

The first year is vital for language development. Without screening, hearing issues might go unnoticed until age two. Surprisingly, over half of babies with hearing problems seem healthy and may respond to vibrations, not actual sounds. That’s why early screening is crucial.In Georgia, hospitals screen babies for hearing loss before discharge. If your baby wasn’t born in a hospital, make sure to get them screened before they’re one month old to check for hearing loss.

Early Hearing Loss Intervention Benefits

Early diagnosis allows babies with hearing loss to begin interventions for the best outcomes. Hearing loss can impact speech, language, and social skills. Starting services early can help these skills reach their full potential. Research shows that early intervention services significantly improve a child’s development by helping them learn language and other key skills.

Remember 1 month, 3 months, and 6 months!

By One Month By Three Months By Six Months
Your baby should be screened for hearing loss.
Your baby will need to see a specialist, like an audiologist or ear, nose and throat doctor (ENT), for further hearing evaluation.
Your baby, if diagnosed with hearing loss, should start intervention services. These services may include speech therapy, hearing devices or other services your baby’s doctor or care coordinator recommends.

By One Month: Your baby should be screened for hearing loss.

By Three Months: Your baby will need to see a specialist, like an audiologist or ear, nose and throat doctor (ENT), for further hearing evaluation.

By Six Months: Your baby, if diagnosed with hearing loss, should start intervention services. These services may include speech therapy, hearing devices or other services your baby’s doctor or care coordinator recommends.

The health department provides newborn hearing screening tests at our health centers. Appointments are required. For more information or to make an appointment, please call 678-442-6863.

What should I expect when I get my newborn screened for hearing loss?

Most babies sleep through their hearing screening test. Tests are safe, easy on the baby, and only take a few minutes.

There are two newborn screening tests:

  • Automated Auditory Brainstem Response (AABR) This tests your baby’s ability to hear soft sounds through small earphones. Baby’s brain waves are measured to find out whether the sounds are processed normally
  • Otoacoustic Emissions (OAE) This test measures a baby’s responses to sounds directly using a small microphone and special computer.


If you want more information about newborn hearing screening, call 678-442-6863.

About the Early Hearing Detection Intervention (EDHI) Program

EDHI offers a complete screening and referral system in Georgia:

  • Hospital screening for hearing loss.
  • Rescreening for those who don’t pass the initial test.
  • Detailed hearing evaluations for babies who fail the rescreening.
  • Connecting diagnosed babies to the right interventions.


To learn more, visit
State of Georgia EHDI website.

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Community Health Assessment / Community Health Improvement Plans

Community Health Assessments (CHA) and Community Health Improvement Plans (CHIP) have been created for the three counties we serve.

The community-wide health assessment, which examines the county’s health status, is intended to help shape the collaborative efforts to improve the health of residents.

The community health improvement plan describes how the Health Department and a variety of community partners will work together to improve the health of the population through various projects and programs.

Access each county’s CHA and CHIP below:

Gwinnett County

Newton County

Rockdale County

To request previous versions of the CHA and CHIP, contact us.

What’s an epidemiologist?​

Epidemiologists are public health workers who investigate patterns and causes of disease and injury. They seek to reduce the risk and occurrence of negative health outcomes through research, community education and health policy.

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics https://www.bls.gov/

Benefits

Full-time employees are eligible for an extensive and highly-competitive network of benefits.

Benefits package includes:

  • 13 paid holidays per year

  • Three weeks of Annual (Vacation) Leave per year

  • Three weeks of Sick Leave per year

  • Retirement plan through the State of Georgia Employee’s Retirement System which provides for a defined monthly pension upon retirement

  • 401(k) retirement savings plan to supplement pension plan, which includes an agency contribution based on the employee’s contribution amount

  • Life Insurance
    Payroll deductible health insurance and flexible benefits options including Dental, Vision, Long-term Care, Spouse Life, Dependent Life, AD&D, as well as Short-term and Long-term Disability

  • Medical and Childcare Spending Accounts available

  • Employees are eligible to become members of the Atlanta Postal Credit Union and/or the Georgia’s Own Credit Union.