Every year one to two babies in every thousand are born with a hearing loss in one or both
ears.
It is important to establish whether a baby can hear because early identification is known
to be important for the development of the child.
The sooner we know a baby has a hearing loss, the sooner we can provide the help and support
needed for both baby and parents.
The Newborn Hearing Screen is offered during your stay in hospital.
When a member of the hearing screening team will visit you to discuss the screen and to
answer any questions that you may have.
It is now possible to screen babies hearing when they are only a few hours old.
The screen takes just a few minutes, it is very reliable.
It is not upsetting for you or your baby.
The Hearing Screen is usually offered during your stay in hospital either on the labour
ward or on the maternity ward.
Before screening takes place you will be asked for your consent.
The screen will usually be carried out at your bedside when your baby is comfortable
and settled.
This baby is being screened using the Automated Otoacoustic Emission screen also known as
the OAE.
For this a tiny soft earpiece is placed in the baby's ear and a sound like this
*rapid clicking sound*
is played.
A hearing ear will respond to these sounds by making a very quiet sound that can then
be picked up by the microphone in the ear piece, the whole process has only taken a
couple of minutes to complete.
The baby remained peaceful throughout and the screener has been able to record clear
responses from both ears.
The screener makes a note of the screening results in the baby's records and shows mum
two checklists in the Red Child Health Record book to refer to as the baby grows.
One details the reactions to sounds a baby should be making at a given age and the other
details sounds babies should be reacting to at a given age.
The screener is happy with the responses received today, but a very small number of babies may
develop or acquire a hearing loss later on in life so it is important to keep a check
on your baby's hearing if you have any concerns at any age tell your GP or Health Visitor.
Most babies will have the hearing screen before they leave hospital, if your baby is not screened
before you leave or is not born in a hospital setting you will be offered the Newborn Hearing
Screen before your baby is four weeks old, this will usually take place in an outpatients
clinic.
Clear Responses can be recorded from the OAE screen for most babies who can hear,
but for a number of babies this may not always be possible.
because of noises in the room,
the baby may become unsettled or there may still be some birth fluid in the ear which
will clear over time.
This baby had the OAE screen earlier this morning but the hearing screener was unable
to get a clear response,
the screener will explain this to mum and will explain the second screening technique
with her.
Once the baby is settled and preferably asleep this next screen can begin
It's called the Automated Auditory Brainstem Response, known as the AABR.
This time the babies responses to sound are picked up through small sensors which are
placed on the neck, shoulder and forehead.
Soft clicking sounds are played through ear muffs especially designed for newborns.
This screen can take up to 20 minutes to complete during which time the baby's responses are
automatically measured.
Again if the room becomes too noisy or the baby is unsettled, it might not be possible
to get clear responses so some babies might need to be referred to children's audiology
for further assessment.
It is likely though, that Clear Responses will be recorded at this stage but just in
case there is a hearing loss it is important to keep any appointments made for you and
your baby.
Babies who have spent longer than 48 hours on the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit will be
screened using both techniques as these babies have a higher risk of hearing loss.
As we have seen...
If you have any concerns about your baby's hearing at any age please contact your Health
Visitor or GP.