California Newborn Hearing Screening Program

The California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS), Children's Medical Services (CMS) Branch has implemented a statewide comprehensive Newborn Hearing Screening Program (NHSP). The NHSP helps identify hearing loss in infants and guide families to the appropriate services needed to develop communication skills.

Here is the CA NHSP website: http://www.dhcs.ca.gov/services/nhsp/Pages/default.aspx

The South Eastern California Hearing Coordination Center (SECHCC) provides services to providers and families in the Mono, Inyo, San Bernardino, Riverside, San Diego, and Imperial Counties.

The functions of the Hearing Coordination Center include:

  • Assisting hospitals to develop and implement their screening programs
  • Certifying hospitals to participate as screening sites
  • Monitoring programs of the participating hospitals
  • Assuring that infants with abnormal hearing screenings receive necessary follow-up including rescreening, diagnostic evaluation, treatment, and referral to early intervention service agencies, as appropriate providing information to families and providers so they can more effectively advocate with commercial health plans to access appropriate treatment.