All babies born or living in Alberta are offered screening for permanent hearing loss within 90 days of birth. It's best to have your baby's hearing screened before they are 1 month old. Newborn hearing screening is free. Additional eligibility requirements are based on your baby's age and health status. If your baby is born with bilateral aural atresia or presents with meningitis, they will be referred to Audiology Services for a diagnostic ABR assessment.

Newborn hearing screening is offered by Alberta Health Services (AHS) through the Early Hearing Detection & Intervention (EHDI) Program. Newborn hearing screening service is offered on all Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICU) and most hospital or birth centre postpartum units before discharge and by appointment at many community-based hearing screening sites.

• a referral is not required for newborn hearing screening within 90 days of birth
• if you are concerned about your baby's hearing after 90 days of birth, ask your health care provider to make a referral to the nearest AHS Audiology Service site
• babies who pass hearing screening and have risk factors for hearing loss will be referred for a follow-up hearing test at 6 to 8 months of age
• babies who do not pass their hearing screening test will be referred for a diagnostic ABR assessment to rule out or confirm hearing loss