NCHAM: Early Head Start

Hearing Screening Program Development

Get Started
& Implement

Screening Methods
- Otoacoustic Emissions (OAE) Screening is recommended for all children 0 – 3 years of age. It is also appropriate for many children over 3 who are unable to follow instructions and complete tasks required for Pure Tone Audiometric Screening. Pure Tone Screening has traditionally been recommended for children over 3 years of age who can follow instructions and complete screening tasks. Talk with your local pediatric audiologist about which method, or methods, are optimal for the population you serve.
  - (OAE) Otoacoustic Emissions
  - Pure Tone

Use Screening Results to Promote School Readiness

Spread the Word

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The Early Childhood Hearing Outreach (ECHO) Initiative is part of the National Center for Hearing Assessment and Management at Utah State University. The ECHO Initiative focuses on extending the benefits of periodic hearing screening to young children in a variety of health and education settings. We also serve Early Head Start/Head Start programs as the National Resource Center on Early Hearing Detection and Intervention. Our goals are to ensure that early childhood education and health care providers have:

Information and resources for screening children 0 - 3 years of age (OAE is the recommended method);
Information and resources for screening children 3 - 5 years of age (considerations in selecting a screening method [PDF]);
Tools to effectively implement hearing screening so that children with hearing-health needs are identified as early as possible and provided with appropriate follow-up services and support; and
Strategies for using hearing screening as an opportunity to promote language development in all children as an integral part of school readiness.

Take a quick video tour of the website

Read a brief description about OAE screening [PDF]

Watch a one-minute video demonstrating OAE screening

Consider whether your setting is appropriate for OAE Screening [PDF]

Learn more about the ECHO Initiative

Meet the ECHO Initiative Team

Read published articles