Does your hospital offer a screening test after your baby has been born? If it does, make use of it. Otherwise, ask them to conduct a hearing screening test.

Why should you get your babies hearing tested?

One or two out of thousand children are born with partial or complete hearing loss. The earlier you find out whether or not your baby has a hearing defect, the earlier you can do something about it. You can also get more information and support as soon as possible.

When is the hearing screening test done?

The hearing screening test is done in the baby’s first weeks of life. Most hospitals do the test even before the mother and the baby are discharged. Some hospitals conduct a hearing screening test at baby’s first general check-up, usually at two weeks. In some cases, a health visitor or midwife or family doctor conducts a hearing screening test at home.

How is the hearing screening test done?

Otoacoustic emissions are commonly used for hearing screening. A probe assembly is placed in the ear canal, tonal or click stimuli are delivered, and the otoacoustic emissions generated by the cochlea is measured with a microphone. This process is fast and efficient. It takes just a few minutes and you can be with your baby throughout the procedure.

If there are problems with the results of the otoacoustic emission test, your doctor might suggest that you go in for another automated otoacoustic emission test or he may recommend another test called, Automated Auditory Brainstem Response (AABR) test. This test involves sticking disposable surface electrodes high on the forehead, on the mastoid, and on the nape. A click stimulus is delivered to the infant’s ear through small disposable earphones. The hearing screening equipment will tell you how your baby’s ears respond to the clicking sound. This process takes anywhere from 5 to 30 minutes. Again, you can be with your baby throughout the process.

Are the results of the tests always accurate?

Some problem with the initial test results does not necessarily mean that your bay has a hearing problem. Some factors like background noise or an unsettled baby can interfere with the test results.

How can you prepare your baby for the hearing screening tests?

The hearing screening test works best if your baby is sleeping but it is not necessary that your baby should be asleep. Just make sure that he is not disturbed or unsettled. If possible feed him, change his diaper and make sure that he is comfortable and happy. This way, he will be settled and calm throughout the testing process.

Earlier, parents used to find out about their children’s hearing problems only after they were 2-3 years old. By this time, important speech and language milestones would have been missed. With the advent of newborn hearing screening tests, you can get your child’s hearing tested even when he is 2-3 weeks old. This will permit you to take any corrective and support measures you need.

Jason Ladock

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