According to law, a newborn hearing test is mandated by law in all 50 states of the United States, a law that further mandates it before a newborn can leave the hospital. In our previous article, we just talked about why a newborn hearing test so necessary even without law in other countries. Here will talk about the types of hearing tests done on newborn babies.
Please don’t worry parents as a newborn hearing test doesn’t involve injections and the like. Both types of newborn hearing tests are painless so much so that these will not affect your baby’s deep sleep. You and your baby’s pediatrician will agree which of the two types of tests will be suitable for your baby.
Types of Tests Done
Keep in mind that these hearing screening tests should be done in a hospital and conducted by a trained technician, usually an audiologist. This is because a newborn baby’s hearing system is as fragile as can be, and any loud sound can damage it.
Aside from these screening tests, parents are well-advised to let their babies undergo them as a precautionary measure. In case of hearing-related issues, the appropriate measures can be done as early as possible, and we know the importance of early intervention in children.
Follow-up Test May Be Needed
But what happens if your baby doesn’t pass, so to speak, the hearing test? Don’t worry too much about it since a significant number of newborns fail their initial hearing test for a natural reason – fluid is likely still present in the ear canal, a natural post-birth occurrence.
The pediatric audiologist will schedule a follow-up test in the next couple of weeks; by then, the fluid in the ear canal should be gone. Most infants, furthermore, pass their foll0w-up test but for those who don’t pass it, a diagnostic hearing test will be made to investigate the matter further.
The hearing tests performed for infants differ depending on their age, too. Older children who respond to external sounds usually have a different test than for infants, for example, while teens and adults usually have the same hearing screening exams.
Even with hearing issues, a pediatric audiologist can work with the baby’s parents to find the best solution. Indeed, with the modern audiology technology we have today, there’s always hope for a treatment. If there’s no treatment, then there are other methods by which a child can enjoy life to the fullest with the assistance of parents, doctors, and therapists.
If you think your infant need a hearing test, please contact us for further consulation. We are a Hong Kong hearing & speech centre offering hearing test & assessment and hearing aid prescription.
Source:
HK Hearing & Speech Centre
Specialist of Hearing test & assessment,
and Hearing aid prescription
Yes, it has a federal law in the United States requiring a newborn hearing test before an infant is discharged from the hospital. But it isn’t the single reason why parents should consent to a hearing test for their newborn babies!
Indeed, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) strongly recommends newborn hearing screenings. If a newborn didn’t undergo a hearing screening before being discharged from the hospital for any reason, the Academy recommends it by one month of age. In case of hearing issues, the baby should be enrolled in an early intervention program as early as three months or six months, at the latest.
This brings us to the question: Why are hearing screening tests so necessary that federal law and the AAP requires it?
Sense for Learning
Babies learn by listening to the sounds around them and develop their speech through their sense of hearing, too. Keep in mind, too, that the sense of hearing is so important in the womb – babies have been shown to turn their head and/or body toward the source of the sound.
This is the reason why obstetricians-gynecologists recommend pregnant mothers talk to their unborn babies and listen to music. These activities can enhance a baby’s sense of hearing when in the womb.
The newborn screening and diagnosis are of crucial importance in determining whether your baby has hearing-related issues, such as being hard of hearing or deaf. Without them, it’s difficult to know about the changes in hearing in the first months and years of your baby’s life.
Don’t rely on your personal observations about your baby’s response to external sounds, such as being startled by a loud sound or turning his head toward the sound. Such a response doesn’t necessarily mean that your baby can actually hear all external sounds. Babies who are either hard of hearing or deaf may hear certain sounds but may be unable to hear enough to hear and understand the spoken language.
Early Intervention as a Must
Infants who are hard of hearing or deaf need the right level of care and support from their parents and family, as well as the appropriate early intervention services. The wholistic approach is a must in the baby’s healthy development.
Otherwise, your baby’s communication skills in general and language skills in particular will be adversely affected, if he’s diagnosed later on to be hard of hearing or deaf. Indeed, a missed diagnosis hearing loss will also have adverse impact on your child’s socio-emotional development, academic achievements, and quality of life.
The earlier the intervention, the better the prognosis. This is the general rule for infants with hearing issues, and the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends early intervention as early as six months old.
If you think your infant need a hearing test, please contact us for further consulation. We are a Hong Kong hearing & speech centre offering hearing test & assessment and hearing aid prescription.
Source:
HK Hearing & Speech Centre
Specialist of Hearing test & assessment,
and Hearing Aid Prescription
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