Hearing Screening
Your baby
should have a hearing screening within the first month of birth.
The Women & Newborn's Center automatically screens all newborns for
hearing loss. A hearing screening is important for your baby
because hearing loss is one of the most common birth
disabilities. Hearing loss happens to 3 out of 1,000
babies. This hearing test allows you to catch any problems
early.
If hearing loss is identified early (before 6 months of age), your baby can get help and possibly learn language like babies who do not have hearing loss. Your baby can learn speech and language with the use of hearing devices and other communication options.
Your baby's hearing can be screened in the following two ways:
The hearing screening results will be discussed with you. Your baby will either pass or be referred to have more testing. A passing test means that your baby can hear well enough to learn to talk. If you get referred for more testing, it does not mean that your baby has hearing loss. It just means that your baby has to be tested again.
Remember to continue to monitor your baby for signs of hearing loss such as delayed language because some children develop hearing loss at a later date.
If hearing loss is identified early (before 6 months of age), your baby can get help and possibly learn language like babies who do not have hearing loss. Your baby can learn speech and language with the use of hearing devices and other communication options.
Your baby's hearing can be screened in the following two ways:
- Otoacoustic emissions (OAE) tests can show whether
parts of the ear respond properly to sound. During this test, a sponge
earphone is placed into the ear canal. The ear is stimulated with
sound, and the "echo" is measured. The echo is found in everyone who
hears normally. If there is no echo, it could indicate a hearing
loss.
- Auditory brain stem response (ABR) tests check how the brain stem (the part of the nerve that carries sound from the ear to the brain) and the brain respond to sound. During this test, your child wears earphones, and electrodes are placed on the head and ears. A mild sedative may be given to help keep your child calm and quiet during the test. The nurse or doctor sends sounds through the earphones and measures the electrical activity in your child's brain when he or she should be hearing.
The hearing screening results will be discussed with you. Your baby will either pass or be referred to have more testing. A passing test means that your baby can hear well enough to learn to talk. If you get referred for more testing, it does not mean that your baby has hearing loss. It just means that your baby has to be tested again.
Remember to continue to monitor your baby for signs of hearing loss such as delayed language because some children develop hearing loss at a later date.
