Universal newborn hearing screening, a mandatory test for all newborns after birth, is available in all developed countries.
Why is Universal Newborn Hearing Screening Important?
Normal hearing is prerequisite for speech and language development in babies. It is very important to identify any hearing loss in babies after birth. An early identification of hearing loss will lead to early management thus minimizing the impact of hearing impairment. Babies who are born unwell and needed intensive or special care treatment can be on risk of having hearing loss after birth. It is recommended that all babies born should have their hearing checked. We have facility to do hearing test on one day old baby through Oto Acoustic Emission (OAE) test.
Hearing tests used for Newborn hearing screening
Otoacoustic emissions test (OAEs)
A small probe with microphone inserted into the ear canal and clicking sound is played.
In response to clicking sound inner ear produces inaudible sound that echoes back in to middle and outer ear.
The echoes are recorded if baby has normal hearing, when baby has hearing loss no echo or reduced echo is recorded.
Auditory Brainstem Response Test (ABR)
ABR is an evoked potential extracted from on going electrical activity in brain in response to click or tone tip stimuli.
ABR recorded via electrodes placed on forehead and mastoid.
If baby has normal hearing ABR is recorded in forms of traces depicting 1 to 5 peaks. If baby has hearing loss no peaks are recorded.
