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Hearing Tests for Newborns

You may not realize that your baby has a hearing loss until she starts to talk. Children rely on their ears to hear speech, so parents often discover that their child cannot hear until they are 1 or 2 years old. By that age precious time has been lost for normal speech and hearing development.

Get your baby's hearing tested as soon as possible. If a hearing loss is detected, she will be have a greater chance to begin treatment early.

  1. Types of tests

    • The otoacoustic emissions (OAE) and auditory brainstem response (ABR) are two tests used to screen your newborn's hearing. Both are easy to administer and done while your child is sleeping in a quiet room.

      The otoacoustic emissions test measures the inner ear's response to sound. The auditory brainstem response test measures the auditory (hearing) nerve's response to sound.

    When and Where Hearing Tests are Performed

    • Many hospitals provide newborn hearing tests. Your baby can be tested during your stay in the hospital within the first 24 to 48 hours of birth.

      The tests are painless and do no harm to your baby. It generally takes no more than one hour if both tests are administered.

      Your baby can also be tested at an audiologist's office, if he does not have it done in the hospital.

    How the Hearing Tests are Performed

    • The OAE test is done first and involves placing a tiny probe at the entrance to your child's ear canal. The probe sends tones into your child's ear and then measures the sounds that the cochlea or sense organ of the inner ear produces in response to those tones.

      If your baby passes the OAE test, the ABR test is unnecessary and will not be administered.

      The ABR test uses a tiny foam-tipped speaker that sends sound into your child's ear canal. Surface (band-aid like) electrodes placed on your baby's head measure the hearing nerve response to those sounds.

    Results

    • If your baby does not pass the OAE or ABR tests, your pediatrician and/or audiologist will discuss the results and provide recommendations. Typically your child's hearing will be rechecked in two weeks and then a further workup may be done, depending upon those results. This includes further diagnostic ABR testing with an estimation of her hearing loss.

    Considerations

    • If your baby passes the hearing test, this does not guarantee that he will have normal hearing for the rest of his life. He may acquire a hearing loss from a variety of causes, such as ear infections or hereditary factors, if hearing loss runs in the family.

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