Paediatric Aural Habilitation Workshop

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3 Reasons Why Your Baby Needs Newborn Hearing Screening

1. You cannot detect hearing loss by yourself

According to UK National Health Service (NHS), about one or two babies in every thousand are born with a permanent hearing loss in one or both ears. Most of these babies are born into families with no history of hearing loss. We cannot determine a hearing loss by oberving baby's behaviour. Babies may respond to noise by startling or turning their heads toward the sound but this does not mean they have normal hearing. Most babies with hearing loss can hear some sounds but still not hear enough to develop full speaking ability.

2. Discover early to aid baby development

Finding out early can give these babies a better chance of developing language, speech, and communication skills. Recent research indicates that children identified with a hearing loss who begin services early may be able to develop language (spoken and/or signed) on a par with their hearing peers. Identifying the degree of hearing loss and getting the appropriate help could avoid the lack of self-confidence and improve learning ability. It will also help babies make the most of relationships with their family or carers from an early age.

3. Hearing screenings are quick and easy

                             

The screen takes just a few minutes, it's very reliable and it's not upsetting to you or your baby. There are 2 screening tests that may be used Automated Auditory Brainstem Response (AABR) and Otoacoustic Emissions (OAE). Both tests are quick (about 5 to 10 minutes), painless, and may be done while your baby is sleeping or lying still. You will be given your baby's hearing test results as soon as the test is done.

Babies sharing their delightful hearing screening experience. :)

                                              

Have any question? Contact us for more info.

Source 

NHS, National Health Service, UK (Updated 08/2015)
Newborn Hearing Screening and Your Baby (Copyright © 2010 American Academy of Pediatrics, Updated 10/2012)

The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA)
Carla Wood Jackson. and Christopher Schatschneider. "Rate of Language Growth in Children with Hearing Loss in an Auditory-Verbal Early Intervention Program." American Annals of the Deaf 158.5 (2014): 539-554. Project MUSE. Web. 

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Is Newborn Hearing Screening Really Necessary?

Video by National Health Service (NHS) UK, August 2015

Before you bring your newborn home from the hospital, your baby needs to have a hearing screening.

Although most babies can hear normally, 1 to 3 of every 1,000 babies are born with some degree of hearing loss. Without newborn hearing screening, it is difficult to detect hearing loss in the first months and years of your baby's life. About half of the children with hearing loss have no risk factors for it.

Newborn hearing screening can detect possible hearing loss in the first days of a baby's life. If a possible hearing loss is found, further tests will be done to confirm the results. When hearing loss is confirmed, treatment and early intervention should start as soon as possible. Early intervention refers to programs and services available to babies and their families that help with hearing loss and learning important communication skills.

Why do newborns need hearing screening?

Babies learn from the time they are born. One of the ways they learn is through hearing. If they have problems with hearing and do not receive the right treatment and early intervention services, babies will have trouble with speech and language development.

For some babies, early intervention services may include the use of sign language and/or hearing aids. Studies show that children with hearing loss who receive appropriate early intervention services by age 6 months usually develop good language and learning skills.

Some parents think they would be able to tell if their baby could not hear. This is not always the case. Babies may respond to noise by startling or turning their heads toward the sound. This does not mean they have normal hearing. Most babies with hearing loss can hear some sounds but still not hear enough to develop full speaking ability.

Timing is everything. Your baby will have the best chance for normal language development if any hearing loss is discovered and treatment begins by the age of 6 months—and the earlier, the better.

How is newborn hearing screening done?

There are 2 screening tests that may be used:

Automated Auditory Brainstem Response (AABR)—This test measures how the hearing nerve responds to sound. Clicks or tones are played through soft earphones into the baby's ears. Three electrodes placed on the baby's head measure the hearing nerve's response.

Otoacoustic Emissions (OAE)—This test measures sound waves produced in the inner ear. A tiny probe is placed just inside the baby's ear canal. It measures the response (echo) when clicks or tones are played into the baby's ears.

Both tests are quick (about 5 to 10 minutes), painless, and may be done while your baby is sleeping or lying still. One or both tests may be used.

What if my baby does not pass the hearing screening?

If your baby does not pass the hearing screening at birth, it does not necessarily mean that your baby has hearing loss. In fact, most babies who do not pass the screening test have normal hearing. But to be sure, it is extremely important to have further testing. This should include a more thorough hearing evaluation and a medical evaluation. These tests should be done as soon as possible, but definitely before your baby is 3 months old. These tests can confirm whether hearing is normal or not. Be sure to talk with your child's doctor about scheduling further testing.

If hearing loss is found, what can be done?

This depends on the type of hearing loss that your baby has. Every baby with hearing loss should be seen by a hearing specialist (audiologist) experienced in testing babies, a pediatric ear/nose/throat doctor (otolaryngologist), and a pediatric eye doctor (ophthalmologist). Some children with hearing loss can also have problems with their vision. Many children are also seen by a geneticist to determine if there is a hereditary cause of hearing loss.

Special hearing tests can be performed by the audiologist who can tell you the degree of hearing loss and what can be done to help.

If the hearing loss is permanent, hearing aids and speech and language services may be recommended for your baby. Occasionally, surgical procedures may be helpful for hearing loss. You will be informed of choices for communicating with your baby including total communication, oral communication, cued speech, and Sign Language.

The outlook is good for children with hearing loss who begin an early intervention program before the age of 6 months. Research shows these children usually develop language skills on a par with those of their hearing peers.

Have any question? Contact us for more info.

Source 

NHS, National Health Service, UK (Updated 08/2015)

Newborn Hearing Screening and Your Baby (Copyright © 2010 American Academy of Pediatrics, Updated 10/2012)

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What Is The Best Hearing Aid Style For Me?

Yes, I’m Currently Wearing Hearing Aids

For individuals already wearing hearing aids and seeking to update their technology, the best place to start is with the current device. Because hearing technology is constantly evolving, hearing aid users will often be able to find the same or a similar style to their outdated device, just equipped with newer and more modern features. It’s possible the type of hearing loss has changed over time, however; so it’s important to have your hearing tested before updating hearing aids.

I Have Difficulty in Grasping Small Items

For individuals with dexterity issues (difficulty grasping small items or losing feeling in fingertips), it’s usually easier to avoid smaller devices. Low profile In-the-Ear (ITE) devices or Behind-the-Ear (BTE) devices with earmolds might be suitable because they are the largest instruments and easiest to handle. Additionally, the batteries will be the largest—size 13 or 675— which will allow for simpler battery swaps. Automated features should also be considered to assist adjusting volume, changing between programs and using the telephone. You may also want to talk to your hearing care practitioner about the possibility of a remote control if the volume or program controls on your hearing aids are difficult to use.

I Am Home-Bound, Not Living an Active Lifestyle

If the individual seeking hearing aids is homebound, restricted in daily activities or cognitively impaired, BTE devices with earmolds might be most suitable. Selecting earmolds made of soft, flexible material can help it fit comfortably in the ear and makes it easy for a caretaker to assist. Other items to consider, such as assistive listening devices, include: amplified telephones, special smoke detectors, bed-shaker alarms, doorbells that flash a light or a device to amplify the television. 

I Have a Mild or Moderate Hearing Loss

If you have a mild or moderate hearing loss, there are several options to consider when selecting hearing aids, including: Completely-in-Canal (CIC), In-the-Canal (ITC) and Receiver-in-Canal (RIC). If you have hearing loss in the lows and the highs, a more occluding fit from CIC or ITC styles will accommodate the loss while still being quite discreet. If your hearing loss is primarily in the high frequencies, open fit RIC styles are the most comfortable because they still let in the natural low-frequency sounds while they amplify the high frequencies. These options can also be equipped with advanced features to allow hearing aids to filter noise from speech, adapt to different environments, suppress feedback and wirelessly connect to mobile phones, a personal microphone system or other public assistive listening devices.

I Have a Severe or Profound Hearing Loss

For individuals with a severe or profound hearing loss, ITC hearing aids, low-profile ITE hearing aids or BTE hearing aids with earmolds might be suitable, depending on the degree of loss. These styles of hearing aids provide the most powerful amplification and are least susceptible to moisture damage from the ear canal. It can be helpful to select by taking into account the size of your ears, personal preference and the amount of wax that builds up in your ear canals. Advanced features are important when this type of loss is present, as they can filter noise from speech, adapt to different environments, suppress feedback and wirelessly connect mobile phones, a personal microphone system or other public assistive listening devices. Other items to consider when dealing with severe to profound hearing loss include assistive listening devices, such as: amplified phones, specialized smoke detectors, bed-shaker alarms, doorbells that flash a light or a device that amplifies the television.

This flowchart should be used only as a guide when considering and selecting a pair of hearing aids. Hearing aids can be fitted for a broad range of hearing losses in more styles and sizes than ever before, in part due to the miniaturization of electronics. More people than ever can wear tiny, nearly invisible models, and even the larger-sized instruments are available in very sleek styles.

Have a question? Contact us to find out more.

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