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For Medical Home and Primary Care Providers

For Medical Home and Primary Care Providers

A child’s medical home plays an important role in supporting families throughout their hearing journey from initial screenings to diagnosis and are key to the success of Oregon’s EHDI program. Medical home care providers collaborate with families through shared decision making to discuss all available communication modalities and assistive technologies to make the best decision for the child and the family. 

  • Find hearing screening options in Oregon here. This list is updated frequently and may include options that are not listed in an insurance directory or medical system. As timing of screening and follow-up testing is critical, please schedule the appointment with the family before they go home. Develop a relationship with hearing screeners and audiologists near your practice for smooth coordination of care. 
  • Have your own hearing screening equipment? Results for certain children must be reported to the Oregon EHDI program within 10 days of service using the Screening Report Form (PDF). Please complete this facility profile form​ to register as a location within our database. 

  • Find hearing testing options in Oregon here​. This list is updated frequently and may include options that are not listed in an insurance directory or medical system. As timing of screening and follow-up testing is critical, please schedule the appointment with the family before they go home. Develop a relationship with hearing screeners and audiologists near your practice for smooth coordination of care. 
  • EHDI-PALS is a national directory of hearing service providers. Find hearing aid audiologists, cochlear implant audiologists, or out-of-state audiologists here using a child's age, service needed and zip code.  

The Oregon EHDI Program recognizes and values the wide range of identities people hold and choose to identify with. People may self-identify as deaf, Deaf, deafblind, hard of hearing, a person with hearing loss, Deaf Plus, Deaf+, a person with a hearing difference, Deaf Disabled, etc. The Oregon EHDI Program often uses “deaf and hard of hearing,” in an all-inclusive manner. We may use the term “hearing loss” when talking about a medical diagnosis.  

Social and Medical Models of Disability, and Early Relational Health:  
Since implementation of universal newborn hearing screening, families often enter the deaf and hard of hearing community through a medical context and early in the development of their relationship. Medical providers will need to consciously emphasize the social model of disability, including referring to partners who promote positive self-concept for children living with a disability. Additionally, perinatal mental health may be impacted by diagnosis of a disability and should be monitored and supported, as it can affect the child and family. 

​Audiologists typically have referred children to Early Intervention and other support programs following identification of a hearing difference. When needed, refer children to their resident county’s Early Intervention program using contact information found here. 

Many families find additional services during the early years of a child’s life to be beneficial: 

  • Program for parents, families, and caregivers raising a child who is deaf or hard of hearing. GBYS provides unbiased information and emotional support from trained parents of children who are deaf or hard of hearing.  
  • Referral is sent through Oregon EHDI program following a diagnosis. 
  • Public health program for parents, families, and caregivers to help families set goals for making healthy lifestyle choices and fostering personal growth. 
  • Referral is sent through Oregon EHDI program following a diagnosis for participating counties. 
  • Supports families of children with special health needs navigating complex health care systems. Staffed by parents of children and youth with a variety of health conditions. Provide free one-to-one support, training, and printed materials to families and professionals who serve them. 
  • Peer-delivered services are free for families and include 1:1 support, trainings, resources, parent leadership development, and advocacy.  
  • FACT Oregon is Oregon’s statewide Parent Training and Information Center for Special Education. FACT Oregon empowers families, youth, and communities to navigate disability systems, advocating together for disability justice and policy change so that people with disabilities have what they need to thrive at home, in school, and in their communities. 
  • A local Deaf-led organization that offers free services and support to Oregonians who are deaf and hard of hearing.

​AAP - Additional Referrals: Children who are deaf/hard of hearing may benefit from seeing other medical specialists, and may require a referral: 

  • Audiologists 
  • Otolaryngologists 
  • Ophthalmologists 
  • Geneticists 
  • Speech-Language Pathologists