Tests for newborn hearing assessment
One of the most important developmental milestones to be achieved during infancy and early childhood is the development of language. Babies start to say their first words around one year of age. And in two years of time, the babies start speaking 2-3 word sentences. Language skills developed during the preschool years at home by the parents is the first and foremost basic foundation for learning language.
Hearing impairment in babies is one of the most serious sensory impairments with significant social and psychological consequences. Failure to detect new born babies / children with congenital ( by-birth) or acquired ( after birth ) hearing loss may result in lifelong deficits in speech and language acquisition, poor academic performance and personal-social and behavior problems.
Now a days , most of the Obstetrics & Gynecology hospitals are having newborn hearing screening device to identify the babies born with hearing problems.
Usually the babies are screened after 30 days of birth and if result says PASS, the baby has normal functioning ears. If a baby on screening identified as FAIL/ REFER , the baby should be re-tested after 90 days. After 90 days if the baby’s result shows FAIL / REFER , the baby should be directed to Audiology department for further tests and enrolled in early intervention/ treatment & management.
