The newborn hearing screening test is done when your baby is asleep or settled. It does not cause any pain or discomfort to your baby.
You can stay with your baby while it's done. It only takes a few minutes.
Specially trained staff called 'screeners' do the test.
How the test is done
The newborn hearing screening test checks how your baby's inner ear (the cochlea) responds to sound.
When a healthy ear receives sound, the inner part produces an echo. Checking this tells us that the hearing is working fine.
This is how the hearing screening test is done:
- The screener will put a small soft-tipped earpiece in your baby's outer ear.
- They will play clicking sounds into your baby's ear.
- The screening equipment tests your baby's inner ear to see if it is echoing the clicking sounds.
- The screener will repeat the test if necessary.
You will get the results at the time of the screening test.
If the results are not clear, the screener will do a second hearing screening test at another time.
Second hearing screening test
Most babies only need 1 hearing screening test. But some babies need to have a second test. This is because the results of the first hearing screening test were not clear.
This does not necessarily mean that your baby has a hearing loss.
Other common reasons why the first hearing screening test was not clear can include:
- your baby may have been unsettled at the time of screening
- there may have been background noise during the screening test
- your baby may have fluid or a temporary blockage in the ear after the birth - this is very common and will pass with time
Your baby's second hearing screening test may be done before you leave hospital. If not, you will get an appointment for the outpatient clinic.
Babies who spent more than 48 hours in intensive care are more likely to have hearing loss than babies who did not spend time in intensive care.
Newborn hearing screening will still usually be done before your baby leaves hospital. If this is not possible, you will be contacted to let you know when and where it can be done.