The last thing you want to do is run a whole bunch of tests on your brand new baby. Newborn hearing screenings are important to equip you to give your child the best care possible.
This is a partnered post. As always, all thoughts and opinions are those of the writer.
When Poppy was born she went through a barrage of tests, as is standard for all newborns. Although all I wanted to do was to snuggle her, I knew that each time she was poked or awoken it was in her best interest. Fortunately, I was able to hold her during her newborn hearing screening. Two little ear cuffs were put in place and what looked like little electrodes were placed on her chest, back, and forehead. Thankfully, she passed her hearing test with flying colors.
May is “Better Hearing & Speech Month”, and I’ll be sharing weekly posts with you about communication disorders as part of the Identify the Signs campaign. This campaign is sponsored by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association to get the word out on early signs and detection.
Why is newborn hearing screening important?
Simply put, because it can catch hearing loss early! For every 1,000 births, two to three will have hearing loss at birth. Children who have hearing loss that is left untreated have difficulty learning to listen and speak, have trouble learning to read, and have difficulty in school.
What do you do if your child doesn’t pass the newborn hearing test?
Receiving challenging news, such as your newborn may have hearing loss, is a tough pill to swallow. But it’s important that the shock isn’t a deterrent from following through with additional testing. If a newborn doesn’t pass a re-screen, completed within the next few weeks, the child will be referred to an audiologist.
Parents of young children with hearing loss will notice certain behaviors such as limited babbling as compared to hearing children, lack of attention to sound, or inconsistent response to sound. The most important thing is the lifelong consequence for children who suffer from untreated hearing loss.
What could happen if hearing loss is left untreated?
Children without the proper intervention and support are affected in four major ways:
- delay in speech and language
- language deficit results in reduced academic achievement
- often lead to social isolation
- may impact vocational choices
For more information regarding the effects of hearing loss on development, this hearing loss PDF is full of helpful information. Another great resource is the podcast, Newborn Hearing Screening-In the Hospital and Beyond from Dr. Patti Martin, Director of Audiology and Speech Pathology from Arkansas Children’s Hospital and ASHA-certified audiologist.
Of course, not all hearing loss is present at birth. Some signs to look for in older children include not responding when his/her name is called, difficulty following simple directions, and difficulty identifying where sounds have come from. Next week, I’ll be sharing information from ASHA regarding noise-induced hearing loss.
I feel very fortunate as a parent to have the information and resources available to prepare my children for bright futures. For those children born with hearing loss, early detection shows that communication disorders are treatable. Check out the ASHA’s website for more information.
Anne - Mommy Has to Work says
I have pictures of both of mu children with those big head phones on! I’m glad they are testing right away.
Melanie says
Me too! It just takes a few minutes, but is so important for those with hearing loss.
Colleen says
I think it is great to test immediately instead of waiting for signs of a problem.
Penelope Guzman says
Thanks for this important information! I remember going through these checks, and feeling so concerned until I got the results.
Theresa @ Faith and Family Reviews says
Good advice. I didn’t even know there was such a month.
Liz Mays says
I remember practicing all the tests at home to make sure my kids reacted how they should. I’m glad they have screenings for the little ones!
Melanie says
I have a scene from an Helen Keller movie burned in my brain of her parents calling her name & realizing she didn’t respond. I’m so grateful for the advancements in medicine that allow us to know these things right away.
Tammy says
I feel like such a bad mom…I’m thankful that my daughter can hear fine because I think I missed checking regularly some of the signs of hearing problems 🙁
Monica says
As a nurse and a mother I cannot stress enough, the importance of a newborn hearing test. Like many conditions, early detection is key. Great post!
Melanie says
Thanks, Monica! And thanks for all you do as a nurse!
Emily says
This is great information! Thank you for sharing!! I didn’t know about baby hearing tests until it was happening to my child.
Amber Edwards says
This topic is close to my heart. My nephew didn’t pass his first hearing testing. It was a few months later before he passed. No one knows why, but he now hears just fine thankfully. But then there is my daughter. She passed. with flying colors. No issues with her hearing. But he has had sever delays with speech and communication. Knowing that she had passed the hearing test helped put us on the right path to finding help for her because we could eliminate hearing as the problem. Had we not had her hearing tested so early; we never would have known what caused the problems and wouldn’t have known how to help her.
Melanie says
Being a parent can be so nerve-racking! I’m glad you could find answers to best help your daughter. It’s so critical to find these things early so that the side effects are minimal, if there are any at all.
Michelle Cantu says
This is such an important topic. My baby brother had lots of ear issues from birth, hearing loss and tubes in his ears. Testing has grown by leaps and bounds since then, but it is very important to followup.
Melanie says
I’m glad to hear of your brother’s growth. In addition to the testing, there’s been a lot done to educate all of us on how to support those with hearing loss.
Robin Gagnon {Mom Foodie} says
Early learning is so important. The faster this is caught the better
Angela says
I also think the hearing screening is super important. There are so many little ones that I know of that had speech and other problems because it wasn’t diagnosed early that they had a hearing problem.
Kathleen says
I am so thankful they offer these screenings in the hospital. The surro baby had to have a retest when she was born, but luckily everything turned out okay.
Kelsey Apley says
What a cutie pie! I don’t have children at the moment but I agree following up on test like this are really important!! It is nice to see they have test like this available!
Marcie W. says
I can not stress enough how important the newborn hearing screening is from personal experience. My nephew never passed his initial hearing screening and we soon learned he was hearing impaired. He now yet wears hearing aides, yet speaks far better than the average two year old. Early intervention was definitely a key to his success!