The Coastal Health District’s Universal Newborn Hearing and Screening Initiative now has funds available for the purchase of hearing aid devices for infants and children that meet certain qualifications. The Coastal Health District includes Bryan, Camden, Chatham, Effingham, Glynn, Liberty, Long and McIntosh counties.

In order to receive the funds the following criteria must be met:
• Infants and children 3 years of age and under must be identified by a licensed audiologist as having unilateral or bilateral hearing impairment of at least pure tone average of 35 dB or greater;

• The child’s family must elect amplification as an intervention option;

• An audiologist must recommend and prescribe the hearing aid(s) and an ENT must provide medical clearance for hearing aid fitting and;

• The child cannot be enrolled in PeachCare or the Medicaid program and cannot have a third party payer source for financial coverage for the hearing aid(s).

Documentation from appropriate medical providers is required in order to receive payment for the recommended hearing amplification device(s).

For more information, call Jackie King, R.N., Coastal Health District UNHSI coordinator at (912) 691-6882 or toll-free at 1-866-647-0010.