Newborn Screening
Screenings Protect Your Child’s Growth and Development.
Newborn screenings can find health conditions that could affect your child’s development if not treated. Early detection can prevent future disabilities, so your child can reach their full potential.
What Is Newborn Screening?
The Delaware Newborn Screening Program (NSP) is used to determine if newborn babies have any rare health disorders. Babies with these disorders may appear healthy at birth. But most of these disorders, if not detected or treated soon after birth, can result in a developmental delay, a notable cognitive disability, serious medical problems, or even death. Before a newborn goes home from the birth hospital, they will receive a heart, blood spot, and hearing screening.
Your Child Should Receive Three Specific Screenings:
A heart, blood spot, and hearing screening are part of the standard of care to check the health of your baby.
Get them tested
Hearing loss could affect your child’s speech and language development. Schedule a hearing screening before your child is 1 month old.
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Free Resources
Additional Resources
Below are resources and outside services that can help.
Title V Landing Page
There are specific National Performance Measures (NPMs) to serving children and youth with special health care needs (CYSHCN)
Blood Spot Screening
Blood spot screening contact info here. Phone: 302-651-5079 Fax: 302-295-0719
Delaware Hands & Voices
Delaware Hands & Voices is a nationwide nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting families and their children who are deaf or hard of hearing, as well as the professionals who serve them. It is a parent-driven, parent/professional collaborative group that is unbiased towards communication modes and methods.
Parent Information Center (PIC)
The Parent Information Center (PIC) provides information about disabilities and special education rights and consultation about obtaining appropriate services for children with disabilities. It also helps parents prepare for Individualized Education Plan (IEP) and other school meetings.
Deaf Mentor Program
The Deaf Mentor Program provides families with deaf/hard of hearing children an opportunity to work with highly trained deaf/hard of hearing adult role models to enhance children’s language, social, and emotional development. The program is free for the families!