newboRn heaRinG sCReeninG / by Alexandra E. King

Newborn Hearing Screening

Infants must be screened for hearing loss to ensure they keep up with their peers

by Alex A ndr A e . King

Hearing loss is one of the most common problems in newborns. Some 12,000 children in the United States are born with hearing loss each year, according the National Center for Hearing Assessment and Management. Left undetected, hearing loss can negatively impact a child’s speech and language development and academic achievement. Fortunately, with early detection and intervention, children who are deaf or hard-of-hearing can learn at the same pace as children with normal hearing.

According to the Nevada Early Hearing Detection and Intervention (EHDI) Program, hospitals with more than 500 births per year are required to screen a newborn’s hearing prior to discharge. If a baby is born at home or is not screened for hearing loss before leaving the hospital, they should be screened within the first month after birth. The hearing screening is safe and painless. If the infant does not pass the initial screening, the parents should bring the baby back as an outpatient to be rescreened. Infants that do not pass the re-screen will be referred to an audiologist for a complete evaluation prior to three months of age. If the baby is identified with a hearing loss, early intervention by 6 months of age gives the infant the best chance of learning language.

If an infant does not pass the screening, it does not automatically mean the baby is deaf or hard-of-hearing. Dr. Diane Miller, audiologist with the Nevada EHDI Program indicates that the only way to know for sure is to have further testing. “If a baby does not pass the hearing screening, there is a chance he may have hearing loss. The only way to know how much your baby can hear is to have an additional, more thorough, hearing evaluation by an audiologist with the expertise and equipment to test infants.”

For many parents, the results of the hearing screening are the first indication that that their child is deaf or hard-of-hearing. The EHDI Program warns that without hearing screening, it is very difficult to detect hearing loss in infants. Babies with hearing loss may babble, cry and can become frightened or surprised by loud noises just as babies with normal hearing do. Hearing loss can range in severity. Infants that are hard-of-hearing may only miss the softest sounds of speech, while others may only hear very loud noises but not voices. Infants that are deaf generally have difficulty hearing all sounds. Fortunately, with early intervention and the use of hearing technology, deaf and hardof-hearing children can and do succeed in communication and education.

Most babies who are deaf or hard-of-hearing are born to normal hearing parents. If a child is diagnosed with hearing loss, his or her parents have a large support team that is available at little or no cost.

This support often comes from a family–centered early intervention program. The support team usually includes an audiologist, a developmental specialist or teacher of the deaf, and a speech-language therapist. As your child’s parent, you are an important member of your child’s team. Many parents also benefit from speaking with other parents who have gone through the process of raising a child who is deaf or hard-of-hearing.

It is important for parents to know that their baby’s hearing should be screened before leaving the hospital. Be sure to ask the nurse for your baby’s results and if your baby needs additional testing. Although rare, hearing loss can develop after you baby passes the hear-

“If a baby does not pass the hearing screening, there is a chance he may have hearing loss.” - Dr. Diane Miller

diane Miller

ing screen and leaves the hospital. Benchmarks for healthy hearing include quieting to familiar voices at two months of age, searching for sounds with the eyes at four months of age, turning the head towards sounds at six months of age, and giving a toy when asked at one year of age. The EHDI Program encourages parents that have concerns about their child’s hearing or language development to schedule an appointment with an audiologist. A child’s hearing can be tested at any age.

For more information please visit health.nv.gov/NCCID_NewbornHearing.htm or call 775-684-4285