The Texas Early Hearing Detection and Intervention (TEHDI) Program is dedicated to ensuring that deaf or hard of hearing (D/HH) newborns and young children are identified early and and receive intervention services. National benchmarks call for hearing screening no later than one month of age, diagnosis no later than three months of age for infants not passing the screening, and enrollment in intervention no later than six months of age for children identified as D/HH. This is known as the 1-3-6 Plan. When left undetected, hearing loss can negatively impact children through delays in speech, language, social, and emotional development.
Legislative Information
The TEHDI Program was established in 1999 through the passage of House Bill 714 and was implemented in Texas birthing facilities with the Department of State Health Services as the oversight agency. 
In Texas a newborn will receive a hearing screen unless the family declines.
Texas Health and Safety Code Chapter 47 is the Texas statute that governs the newborn hearing program. Texas Administrative Code provides the rules followed by DSHS in order to implement the newborn hearing screening program.
The department provides a web-based system for reporting and tracking newborn hearing information known as the Texas Early Hearing Detection and Intervention management information system (TEHDI MIS). Hearing screen providers, hospitals, health care providers, audiologists, and intervention specialists can access the system to provide or obtain information related to an infant’s hearing.
Written consent from a parent is required before any identifying information may be shared or released through TEHDI MIS. When a family declines to release information, the record will be marked confidential. Only the hearing outcome will be viewable as required for public health reporting and surveillance. It is recommended that the consent form consist of the following elements:
- Printed name of parent/guardian
- Signature of parent/guardian
- Date
- Facility name
- Infant's name and date of birth
- Authorization to disclose individually identifying information to DSHS, as well as, providers along the hearing continuum care that can assist with follow-up and intervention
Consent is not required to perform a newborn hearing screen. However, a family may decline the screen. The Texas Health and Human Services executive commissioner, in collaboration with DSHS, developed a form to document a parent's decision to decline the newborn hearing screening. It is recommended that the refusal is captured in writing.
In accordance with Chapter 47, the department certifies newborn screening programs. Read about the certification process.