Enhancing Hearing Health

CCHAT Continues Partnership with Local Birthing Center for Newborn Hearing Screenings

CCHAT is thoroughly committed to the hearing health of its community. As the program has evolved, the ways in which CCHAT has provided service have expanded. Originally solely a center-based program for students who are Deaf and Hard of Hearing (DHH), CCHAT began serving the community as a newborn hearing screening provider in 2018. This service continues to fill a vital role in the community, helping families in search of definitive answers in regard to their newborn’s hearing health. 

CCHAT’s Newborn Hearing Diagnostic Program: A Growing Impact

CCHAT’s goal continues to be meeting the hearing health needs of its community. With a constantly growing newborn hearing screening program, CCHAT hopes to minimize the number of infants who are lost to follow-up. This program’s ability to expeditiously diagnose newborns with hearing health needs continues to have a significant impact on children who are DHH in the community, opening the door for them to begin receiving services that will help them succeed in a hearing world.

Since its inception in 2018, CCHAT’s Newborn Hearing Diagnostic Program (NHDP) has increased the number of infants served each year. During the most recent school year (2023-24), CCHAT provided NHDP evaluations to 106 babies born in the region. Ten of these children were diagnosed with some level of hearing loss. For the families of these newborns, this firm diagnosis allowed them to begin accessing resources that will have a significant impact on their child’s long-term development.

Partnerships That Make a Difference: CCHAT and California Birth Center

CCHAT continues to take advantage of new, portable hearing screening equipment secured through generous grant funding. In partnership with California Birth Center in Rocklin, CCHAT Audiologist Dr. Katie Isbell spends one day each month providing hearing screenings for the babies born at this midwifery center. 

Rachel Fox-Tierney, California Birth Center’s Clinical Director, sees the advantages of their connection with CCHAT, noting the ease of service for their clients and ability to receive hearing screenings in a familiar environment.

“Although I had been referring clients to the CCHAT Center for years, this (partnership) solidified the benefits of newborn hearing screenings,” Rachel said. “In addition, we extended the invitation to other families in the community who birth at home or at birth centers.”

During the 2024 calendar year, CCHAT provided 58 newborn hearing screenings to California Birth Center families. This number was up from 45 in 2023. In total (as of February 2025), 129 babies born at the California Birth Center have benefited from CCHAT NHDP services. Because of their birth being outside of the hospital system, these families otherwise may have bypassed or been unable to access a hearing screening.

In addition to her visits to California Birth Center, Dr. Isbell continues to provide NHDP services in CCHAT’s on-campus audiology suite. Referrals for these services come from several prominent local hospitals, which have partnered with CCHAT to ensure the hearing health needs of babies are being met. 

A Community-Centered Approach to Hearing Health

CCHAT’s commitment to evolving and our partnerships with local birthing centers and hospitals ensure that children in the region receive the hearing health services they need to thrive. CCHAT is always exploring ways to expand the impact of this program, through technological upgrades, additional regional relationships and community outreach to teach families about the importance of newborn hearing health.

To learn more about the newborn hearing services provided by CCHAT and what to expect at an appointment, click here. To schedule a newborn hearing screening or request more information, use our contact page or call 916-361-7290.