About the Program
The LA EHDI Program began in 1994 with a handful of professionals and volunteers who successfully sponsored legislation mandating newborn hearing screening on all infants at-risk for hearing loss. Further legislation passed in 1999 and signed into law in 2000 mandated hearing screening on all infants born in, or transferred to, a facility in Louisiana. Funding for this effort was not appropriated by the state, therefore there is a strong need to build a system in the communities utilizing other stakeholders/shareholders to continue this effort. Funding is currently provided through grants from the federal government.
The mission of this program is to assure that all infants who are deaf or hard of hearing can achieve their maximum potential in life. That is accomplished by assuring that early intervention services are secured as soon as possible. Early intervention may include the fitting of hearing aids and early developmental services initiated before the child reaches six months of age
Early identification and intervention have proven to positively affect the development of children who are deaf or hard of hearing. The purpose of this program is to assure that a state wide system of services is available for families that is coordinated, comprehensive, family-centered, community-based, and culturally sensitive.
