Texas Early Hearing Detection and Intervention (TEHDI)

The Texas Department of State Health Services Early Hearing Detection and Intervention (TEHDI) oversees the newborn hearing program required for all newborns in the state. TEHDI provides guidance and oversight on screening, tracking and intervention according to The Texas Health and Safety Code, Chapter 47. This ensures all babies born in Texas receive a hearing screening, proper intervention, and referrals to services if suspected or diagnosed as deaf or hard of hearing. 

Texas Health and Safety Code, Chapter 47, was amended by House Bill 2255 and Senate Bill 1404, 86th Legislature, Regular Session, 2019. The existing rules for Newborn Hearing Screening in Texas Administrative Code Title 25, Chapter 37, Subchapter S were repealed entirely and replaced with new rules. The new rules are effective beginning December 23, 2020. Due to the changes in statute, the state developed a consent form (English/Spanish) to ensure consent is documented so hearing/intervention outcomes and individually identifying information is shared with the Department of State Health Services Texas Early Hearing Detection and Intervention (TEHDI) Program, and if necessary, the Statewide Outreach Center at Texas School for the Deaf. The information obtained will be used to coordinate services and provide resources to the child and family if needed, and will not be shared with any parties not involved in the child’s hearing screening follow-up and/or intervention process. 

Any healthcare provider who performs initial hearing screening, follow-up screening, diagnostic evaluations, follow-up care, or interventions is required to report all patient encounters and outcomes, including pass and do not pass results, in the TEHDI MIS within five calendar days after the date of the patient encounter. 

View early hearing detection and intervention annual data and national summaries from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Joint Committee on Infant Hearing (JCIH) Position Statement. This committee consists of hearing health professionals whose mission is to address issues that are important to the early identification, intervention, and follow-up care of infants and young children with hearing loss.