Colorado Early Hearing Detection & Intervention (COEHDI)

The Colorado Early Hearing Detection and Intervention (COEHDI) program collaborates with other state agencies and COEHDI partners statewide to support a coordinated system of care for Deaf and Hard of Hearing children, aged birth to 36 months, and their families. Priorities include: support for hearing screening, diagnosis/identification, and early intervention efforts to ensure appropriate language, communication, and social development for children with hearing differences.

Contact Email

coehdi.cddhhdb@state.co.us

What is COEHDI?

COEHDI stands for Colorado Early Hearing Detection and Intervention.
This program helps make sure babies and young children in Colorado get their hearing checked early, and that they get the support they need for language, communication, and social development if they have hearing differences.

What are the goals of COEHDI?

COEHDI strives to meet the “1-3-6” guidelines recommended by the Joint Committee on Infant Hearing (JCIH) and the Colorado Infant Hearing Advisory Committee (CIHAC). These guidelines support every child identified as Deaf or Hard of Hearing in meeting their full potential for communication development and academic achievement.

The 1-3-6 benchmarks include the following:

  • By 1 month of age, every infant should receive a quality Newborn Hearing Screening (NBHS), followed by one recheck for those who do not pass the first screening.
  • By 3 months of age, every infant who is referred for further testing after the NBHS recheck (and every infant with health-related factors linked to possible hearing difference) should receive a full diagnostic hearing evaluation, performed by an audiologist with expertise in assessment of newborn hearing. 
  • By 6 months of age, every infant who is identified as having a hearing difference should be enrolled in early intervention services.

COEHDI strives to provide support for families by meeting these additional benchmarks:

  • By 6 months of age, parents/guardians of children identified with a hearing difference should be connected to family-to-family support services.
  • By 9 months of age, families should be connected with Deaf or Hard of Hearing adult mentors through the Ascent Program.

What are some ways that COEHDI offers support?

Collaborates with other state agencies & COEHDI partners to help children from birth to 3 years of age meet all of the above benchmarks

  • Provides resources & information to families, early interventionists, and birthing sites
  • Arranges & participates in Virtual Site Visits to support best practices with hearing screening
  • Offers professional development and training opportunities for early interventionists and hearing screeners
  • Connects families & schools with DHHDB adults with the Ascent Program

COEHDI Alliance and Work Groups

The COEHDI Alliance is an advisory committee of EHDI system partners, family members, DHH adults, professionals, and community members who work together to improve services for DHH children. All meetings are open to the public.

In addition to Alliance meetings, COEHDI has several work groups that focus on system priorities. They provide input, advice, and recommendations to the Alliance. Anyone can join a work group — including parents of DHH children, DHH adults, community members, and professionals. These work groups give advice to the COEHDI Alliance.

Anyone is welcome to participate in and contribute to work group or Alliance efforts!

Meet the COEDHI Alliance Members

The Alliance is a stakeholder advisory group that oversees COEHDI’s work. Members review task force recommendations and provide input. The Alliance provides balance and guidance for COEHDI work.

The Alliance includes up to 20 members from groups in the EHDI system such as:

  • State agencies
  • Family support organizations
  • Higher education
  • Early Intervention providers
  • Part C services (Birth to 3)
  • Part B services (Age 3-21)
  • Families of Deaf, Hard of Hearing, and DeafBlind children
  • Deaf, Hard of Hearing, and DeafBlind adults

As of May 2026, COEHDI’s EHDItion newsletter has been relaunched as COEHDI In Sync EHDItion bulletin. The bulletin shares news about issues and events related to the COEHDI system.

Subscribe to the COEHDI In Sync EHDItion Bulletin (External Link)

More Resources

Open the English Newborn Hearing Screening Brochure (PDF) Open the Español Newborn Hearing Screening Brochure (PDF) Open the English Unilateral Hearing Difference (PDF) Open the Español Unilateral Hearing Difference (PDF)