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One in 300 babies will have a hearing loss, the most common birth defect in children.
Good hearing is important for a baby’s learning and speech development. For this reason, Utah law requires that every baby have a hearing screening soon after birth. At Intermountain Health, caregivers check each newborn’s hearing before they go home with their families.
How is the screening test done?
The screening is a quick, painless way to check a baby’s hearing. Two tests are commonly used to screen for hearing problems in babies: the otoacoustic emissions (OAE) test and the auditory brainstem response (ABR) test.
During these tests, a specially trained provider puts a small rubber insert in the opening of a baby’s ear canal while the baby is quiet. The device sends sounds into the ear and measures the response. The response measured depends on the type of test used.
Both types of screening tests are painless and take 10 to 20 minutes. Ideally, screening takes place when the baby is asleep.
Most of the time, parents learn right away their baby has passed the hearing screen. But if the baby does not pass, they will need a second screen.
If a baby does not pass prior to discharge, a follow up appointment will be scheduled within seven to ten days to retest the child’s hearing.
If the baby does not pass the test at the outpatient appointment, a screener will assist the family to find services for further testing before the child is 21 days of age. They may also connect parents to the state Early Hearing Detection and Intervention (EHDI) team, which can assist families throughout the outpatient/diagnostic process.
“Until this type of testing was in place the average age of identifying hearing loss in children was over two years old,” said Lara Waite, AuD, an audiologist at Intermountain McKay-Dee Hospital in Ogden. “Critical language development happens between birth and three years of age. We have dramatically shortened the time of detection, which has allowed us to provide early intervention services during that language learning window. Knowing the level at which a child hears will help parents in their choice of how to proceed with treatment and communication options.”
There are many reasons a baby may not pass the first hearing screening. Follow up as a baby’s healthcare professional recommends.
What causes hearing problems in infants?
There are many possible causes, including:
- A family history of childhood hearing loss
- Premature birth
- Birth defects, which occur in between 1 to 3 infants out of every 1000
- Complications at birth
- Infections such as meningitis
- Certain medications
- Newborn jaundice that requires a blood transfusion
Why hearing screening is important
Most babies do not have hearing loss. But if a baby does, it is important to catch it early. Early detection and Intervention can help reduce speech and language delays.
If a parent learns that a baby has hearing loss, they can be enrolled in early intervention to receive parent support, communication options, and training. This will give a baby the best chance to meet developmental milestones as they grow.
For more information about newborn screenings or to find a provider visit intermountainhealthcare.org.
For ways parents can watch for hearing problems at home from birth to 15 months and a list of the hospitals offering hearing tests, go here.
Lara D. Waite, AUD, is a Doctor of Audiology with Intermountain Mckay-Dee Hospital Pediatric Audiology.
About Intermountain Health
Headquartered in Utah with locations in seven states and additional operations across the western U.S., www.intermountainhealth.org is a nonprofit system of 33 hospitals, 385 clinics, medical groups with some 3,900 employed physicians and advanced care providers, a health plans division called Select Health with more than one million members, and other health services. Helping people live the healthiest lives possible, Intermountain is committed to improving community health and is widely recognized as a leader in transforming healthcare by using evidence-based best practices to consistently deliver high-quality outcomes at sustainable costs. For more information or updates, see https://intermountainhealthcare.org/news.
