NEWBORN HEARING SCREENING

06/02/2020

Why do newborns need hearing screening?

Although most babies can hear normally, 1 to 3 of every 1,000 babies are born with some degree of hearing loss. Without newborn hearing screening, it is difficult to detect hearing loss in the first months and years of your baby's life. About half of the children with hearing loss have no risk factors for it.

Babies learn from the time they are born. One of the ways they learn is through hearing. If they have problems with hearing and do not receive the right treatment and early intervention services, babies will have trouble with speech and language development.

Newborn hearing screening can detect possible hearing loss in the first days of a baby's life. If a possible hearing loss is found, further tests will be done to confirm the results. When hearing loss is confirmed, treatment and early intervention should start as soon as possible. Studies show that children with hearing loss who receive appropriate early intervention services by age 6 months usually develop good language and learning skills.

When's the newborn hearing test done?

If you give birth in hospital, you may be offered a newborn hearing test for your baby before you're discharged.

Otherwise it'll be done by a health professional within the first few weeks. Ideally, the test is done in the first 4 to 5 weeks, but it can be done at up to 3 months of age.

How is newborn hearing screening done?

There are 2 screening tests that may be used:

•Otoacoustic Emissions (OAE)—This test measures sound waves produced in the inner ear. A tiny probe is placed just inside the baby's ear canal. It measures the response (echo) when clicks or tones are played into the baby's ears.

• Automated Auditory Brainstem Response (AABR)—This test measures how the hearing nerve responds to sound. Clicks or tones are played through soft earphones into the baby's ears. Three electrodes placed on the baby's head measure the hearing nerve's response.

Both tests are quick (about 5 to 10 minutes), painless, and may be done while your baby is sleeping or lying still. One or both tests may be used.

When will I know the results?

You’ll get the results as soon as the test is finished.

What do the results mean?

If the test doesn’t show a clear response from one or both of your baby’s ears, your baby will need to have a second test. It doesn’t necessarily mean that your baby has a hearing problem. A ‘refer’ result requires the hearing screen to be repeated within a few weeks.

The initial screen result can be affected by:

•the presence of fluid or other matter that has entered the ear canal during the birth process

•temporary middle ear fluid

•the area where the screen takes place being too noisy or your baby being too restless.

If a pass result is not obtained in both ears at the follow-up screen, your baby will be referred to a pediatric audiologist to test if your baby has a hearing problem.

If hearing loss is found, what can be done?

This depends on the type of hearing loss that your baby has. Every baby with hearing loss should be seen by a hearing specialist (audiologist) experienced in testing babies, a pediatric ear/nose/throat doctor (otolaryngologist), and a pediatric eye doctor (ophthalmologist). Some children with hearing loss can also have problems with their vision. Many children are also seen by a geneticist to determine if there is a hereditary cause of hearing loss.

Special hearing tests can be performed by the audiologist who, together with the otolaryngologist, can tell you the degree of hearing loss and what can be done to help.

If the hearing loss is permanent, hearing aids and speech and language services may be recommended for your baby. Occasionally, surgical procedures may be helpful for hearing loss.

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