Newborn and Child Hearing Evaluations

Newborn and child hearing screening is a test to tell if they might have hearing loss. Hearing screening is easy and not painful. In fact, babies are often asleep while being screened. It takes a very short time - usually only a few minutes.

Babies

All babies should be screened for hearing loss no later than 1 month of age. It is best if they are screened before leaving the hospital after birth. If a baby does not pass a hearing screening, it's very important to get a full hearing test as soon as possible, but no later than 3 months of age.

Older Babies and Children

If you think a child might have hearing loss, ask the doctor for a hearing screening as soon as possible. Children who are at risk for acquired, progressive, or delayed-onset hearing loss should have at least one hearing test by 2 to 2 1/2 years of age. Hearing loss that gets worse over time is known as acquired or progressive hearing loss. Hearing loss that develops after the baby is born is called delayed-onset hearing loss. If a child does not pass a hearing screening, it's very important to get a full hearing test as soon as possible.

Full Hearing Test

All children who do not pass a hearing screening should have a full ear examination and hearing test. This test is also called an audiology evaluation. An otolaryngologist and audiologist, who are experts trained to examine the ear and test hearing, will do the full ear examination and hearing test. In addition, they will also ask questions about birth history, ear infection and hearing loss in the family.

There are many kinds of tests that can be done to find out if a person has a hearing loss, how much of a hearing loss there is, and what type it is. The hearing tests are easy and not painful.  Some of the tests the tests used might include:

Auditory brainstem response (ABR) or brainstem auditory evoked response (BAER) testing checks the brain's response to sound. Because this test does not rely on a person’s response behavior, the person being tested can be sound asleep during the test.

Otoacoustic Emissions (OAE) is a test that checks the inner ear response to sound. Because this test does not rely on a person’s response behavior, the person being tested can be sound asleep during the test.

Behavioral Audiometry Evaluation will test how a person responds to sound overall. Behavioral Audiometry Evaluation tests the function of all parts of the ear. The person being tested must be awake and actively respond to sounds heard during the test.

Get Help!

•If a parent or anyone else who knows a child well thinks the child might have hearing loss, ask the doctor for a hearing screening as soon as possible. Don’t wait!
•If the child does not pass a hearing screening, ask the doctor for a full hearing test.
•If the child is diagnosed with a hearing loss, talk to the doctor or audiologist about treatment and intervention services.

Hearing loss can affect a child’s ability to develop communication, language, and social skills. The earlier children with hearing loss start getting services, the more likely they are to reach their full potential. If you are a parent and you suspect your child has hearing loss, trust your instincts and speak with your doctor.