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.