EHDI: Every Day Counts

By Brooke Montgomery, Hands & Voices Headquarters

For over twenty-five years,  Early Hearing Detection and Intervention (EHDI) programs and family-based organizations have worked to support families by developing EHDI systems nationwide. Every Day Counts is a Hands & Voices led social media campaign developed to spotlight the urgency of the EHDI 1-3-6 benchmarks. This campaign reflects Hands & Voices’ longstanding commitment to family-driven awareness and advocacy as a nonprofit, alongside the evolving and complementary work of the FL3 Center.

In the earliest days of life, every moment matters, especially when it comes to hearing. That belief is at the heart of Every Day Counts, a social media campaign dedicated to raising awareness of the Early Hearing Detection and Intervention (EHDI) 1-3-6 system and the life-changing impact of timely action.

The EHDI 1-3-6 benchmarks call for a hearing screening by one month of age, a diagnostic evaluation by three months, and enrollment in early intervention services by six months. When these milestones are met, children who are deaf or hard of hearing are given the strongest possible foundation for language development, learning, and meaningful connection.

Every Day Counts highlights the importance of timely follow-through—not only screening, but diagnosis and intervention as well. Through real family stories, the campaign underscores that the days between each step matter just as much as the milestones themselves.

The campaign serves as a call to action for families to follow up and ask questions, for providers to support timely referrals and coordinated care, and for communities and systems to work together to reduce barriers to access.

The EHDI 1-3-6 system is more than a set of numbers. It is a promise. A promise that early identification leads to opportunity, that families are supported, and that children who are deaf or hard of hearing are given the chance to thrive.

Join us in sharing the message.
Follow the campaign on social media.
Support families.

Because every day counts. ~

H&V Communicator – Spring 2026