Hearing loss is the most common birth defect, occurring at a rate of three in every 1,000 children. The first months of life are a critical period for developing speech and language skills. Early identification of a hearing loss and appropriate intervention enhances a child's potential for speech and language development.

The goal of Oregon's Early Hearing Detection and Intervention Program (EHDI) is to have newborns screened for a possible hearing loss by one month of age, identify congenital hearing loss in children by three months of age and enroll them in appropriate early intervention by six months of age.