Did your child fail their Newborn Hearing Screening? In this video, I’ll explain
testing, hearing impairment, and possible hearing device technology solutions. Coming up!
Hi, I’m Dr Derek audiologist, audio engineer and musician with Pro Fit Hearing.com bringing
you the best insight into today’s latest hearing aids, headphones, and audio technology
to improve your life. If you have concerns about your hearing, always consult with your
local physician or audiologist.
Today, I’m talking about newborn hearing screening and hearing device options. According
to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in a 2017 survey, 1.7 out of 1000 babies
screened in the United States were identified with hearing loss.
Newborn hearing screening is completed before a baby leaves the hospital. If a baby fails
the hearing screening, the testing is repeated and then additional follow up can be completed
by a pediatric audiologist. A failed newborn hearing screening can be a result of middle
ear fluid, outer or middle ear abnormalities, or inner ear hearing loss. In some cases,
a baby may initially fail their hearing screening only to later pass. This is often the result
of middle ear fluid that clears. A hearing screening can also detect inner ear hearing
loss also called sensorineural hearing loss which is permanent.
It’s important to identify if a child has hearing loss as soon as possible so that your
pediatrician can recommend an appropriate treatment plan. Impaired hearing can significantly
impact speech and language development and overall communication. Your pediatric audiologist
can make recommendations on whether to proceed with hearing aids or possibly consider cochlear
implants. Note however that families of children who are born Deaf may choose to not
treat hearing loss and instead pursue sign language for communication. Ultimately,
it is the parent’s decision whether or not to treat hearing loss.
There are two types of newborn hearing screening tests that can be used at a hospital.
These tests are automated and result in a PASS or FAIL result. Further diagnostic
testing is recommended if the child fails the hearing screening.
One hearing screening test is the otoacoustic emission or OAE test. This plays a series
of soft sounds into the ear canal and records whether there's a response from the inner
ear sensory cells called hair cells. A reduced or absent response will likely result in a
failed screening.
Another test is the Auditory Brainstem Response or ABR. It may also be referred to as Brainstem
Auditory Evoked Response or BAER. This test uses a small electrode on the head and behind
the ears to record brainwave responses to sound played into the ear canal. If there's
a reduced or absent brainwave response to the sound, this will likely result in a
failed hearing screening. The ABR can be completed at a screening level, or the audiologist can
use this exam to determine the child’s hearing threshold levels. ABR data is used to fit
children with hearing aids and also to determine whether a cochlear implant should be considered
to treat hearing loss.
If middle ear fluid is suspected, a test called tympanometry can be completed. This test
uses fluctuating air pressure in the ear canal to see if the eardrum moves back and forth
normally. If middle ear fluid is present, the eardrum mobility is often reduced. Fluid
can prevent sound from passing into the ear normally.
Once the child is older, behavioral testing can be completed in a sound booth by a pediatric
audiologist. The audiologist will play sounds from side to side to see if the child responds
to sounds with a head turn response or with certain activities like putting a ball in
a bucket each time they hear the beeps. Speech discrimination testing can also be
completed to see how the child understands words. Behavioral testing as well as the
automated testing discussed here all help the audiologist determine the type, configuration,
and degree of hearing loss. Your child may need several office visits over time to obtain
the more complete picture of their hearing status.
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If you have concerns about your child’s hearing, consult with your pediatrician and
have an evaluation by a pediatric audiologist. Depending on the nature of the child’s hearing
loss, it may be treated by an Ear Nose and Throat physician (ENT doctor), with hearing
aids, or with cochlear implants.
Hearing aids amplify the frequencies of sound that are not audible. They're custom tuned
to an individual’s hearing thresholds. Hearing aids provide more volume and speech
clarity so that words are easier to understand. Hearing aids give children access to sounds
in their environment, aid in their speech and language development, allow for effective
communication, and assist in learning and comprehension of the world around them.
In cases of more severe hearing loss, hearing
aids may not provide enough benefit so a cochlear implant can be considered. Cochlear implants
stimulate the auditory nerve with electrical impulses that the brain interprets as sound.
This direct connection to the nerve bypasses the damaged part of the ear and sends the
signal up to the brain. A cochlear implant uses an inner electrode device that is inserted
into the inner ear as well as a device that sits on the outside of the head or behind
the ear.
In the case of conductive hearing loss or single sided deafness, your pediatric audiologist
may recommend a bone anchored hearing aid or BAHA. This is a small device that sits
behind the ear and vibrates against the bone. This bone conducted sound transmits through
the skull to the inner ear.
A BAHA device can be secured into place with a headband (for children) or with surgical
implantation into the bone. This often results in a metal post implanted into the bone or
a magnetic implant positioned just under the skin. Bone anchored hearing aids are also
used for conductive and mixed hearing loss.
Your child’s pediatrician can refer you to a pediatric audiologist to guide you in
selecting the most appropriate hearing technology for your child’s needs. With any hearing
loss, early intervention is key. The earlier the hearing loss is detected and treated,
the better the outcome. Also, any hearing technology that's recommended by your audiologist
should be worn every day to aid in your child’s speech and language development.
If you are looking for more information and resources on hearing loss in children, please
refer to the link in the description below from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
or CDC. A Parent’s Guide to Hearing Loss.
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