If you’re getting ready to give birth to your first child, there are probably a lot of things on your mind, from packing a hospital bag to buying baby wipes and diapers. With so many things on your to-do list, it’s nice not to have any surprises during or after the birth.
To help ensure you’re prepared for the journey, let’s look at the process of one aspect of your newborn’s first weeks: their hearing screening.
Why Do Babies Need Hearing Screenings?
Your child’s brain is like a sponge in the first few years of their life. They’re constantly taking in new words and ascribing meaning to things in their own way. They rely on their hearing to grasp much of this information.
About two to three out of every 1,000 children in the United States are born with hearing loss. Testing their hearing within one month of their birth is a crucial way to pinpoint and manage hearing issues before they interfere with your child’s speech development.
What Does a Hearing Screening Involve?
We use two different hearing screenings to test your child’s hearing, both of which are completely comfortable:
- Auditory brain stem response (ABR). An ABR screening will assess how well the auditory nerve and brainstem respond to and transmit sound. During the test, your baby will wear small earphones. They’ll also have electrodes that sit like stickers on their head. Neither the earphones nor the electrodes will cause discomfort.
- Otoacoustic emissions (OAE). An OAE screening measures how well parts of the ear respond to sound. Just like an ABR test, your baby will wear an earphone. Their provider will play a soft sound through the earphones and measure the response.
Remember that while it all sounds scientific, the entire screening process is unintrusive and comfortable for your child. Most babies even sleep through the process.
What if My Child Has Hearing Loss?
If the screening reveals hearing loss, you’ll need to make an appointment with one of our hearing specialists at Speech & Hearing Associates. We’ll conduct a follow-up test to confirm the screening results and recommend treatment options as needed. Options may include hearing aids when they’re very young and, if their type and degree of hearing loss warrant it, a cochlear implant after they’re nine months old.
Remember that hearing loss won’t stop your child from excelling in school or running around Ralston Playground with their friends. By catching and treating hearing loss early, we can set you and your child up for success. If you have any questions about pediatric hearing tests or need to schedule a follow-up test, contact Speech & Hearing Associates today.