Return to Home

Early Hearing Detection and Intervention (EHDI)

Vital records are an integral component of public health surveillance.  While most of the 57 U.S. vital records jurisdictions have had some form of electronic birth registration for many years, many of these systems are being upgraded to web-based platforms that support the 2003 revised U.S. certificate of birth. Most re-engineering projects are addressing the need to integrate birth and newborn hearing screening data, and to otherwise make birth data accessible to their state EHDI coordinators, who use this information to measure screening levels and to conduct follow-up where allowed by state statute. 

Vital records jurisdictions link with their EHDI programs in various ways.  In many cases, the EHDI program is receiving electronic file extracts of birth data on a regular basis.  Other states are providing user access to their vital records data directly to designated EHDI staff.  Some jurisdictions are supporting the physical linking of the databases and/or datasets from the two programs, which allows the integration of the data.  The data integration can be accomplished by collecting the newborn hearing screening data in the birth certificate application or by collecting sufficient identifying information, including a newborn hearing screening or laboratory form number in the birth application, so the birth and newborn hearing data files can be subsequently linked together. 

NAPHSIS receives funding from the CDC EHDI program to promote cooperation and coordination between NAPHSIS members and their EDHI programs.  Because there are still jurisdictions in the process of developing electronic birth registration systems, the NAPHSIS/EDHI Program collaboration needs to be continued, with a focus on: 1) informing and supporting those jurisdictions currently re-engineering their systems, and 2) learning and disseminating best practices from jurisdictions that have successfully integrated newborn hearing screening and birth data to improve identification and follow-up for children with potential hearing impairment.  NAPHSIS continues to work with the CDC EHDI Program in the attainment of these goals.