What is Universal Newborn Hearing Screening?
Universal Newborn Hearing Screening checks if a newborn baby might have hearing loss. Children born deaf or hard of hearing are at risk for developmental delays in language and communication skills, social skills, and learning. Outcomes for these children can be maximized by identifying hearing loss during infancy and intervening before three months of age. Since hearing loss is invisible in most children, all children should receive screening and timely follow-up.
This screening happens right after birth, before leaving the hospital. All states in India must conduct newborn hearing screening, and most require it. It is also conducted in many other countries.
- All babies should have their hearing screened before they leave the hospital.
- If a baby is born at home, a hearing screening should be completed before he or she is 1 month old.
When a baby does not pass the screening, he or she is referred for more detailed, diagnostic hearing testing. If a hearing loss is found, hearing aids or cochlear implants may be recommended. Support services are provided to help families promote the baby’s early language development. These services help babies learn to listen, speak, and/or learn to communicate visually through sign language.
Why is Universal Newborn Hearing Screening Important?
It is important to identify hearing loss as early as possible because babies start learning language as soon as they are born. Listening in the first months of life prepares babies to speak. Watching others communicate helps babies learn language. These early steps are building blocks for communication.
- Babies begin to learn speech and language in the first 6 months of life.
- By their first birthday, babies are already learning what words mean and may use their first words (in speech and/or in sign language).
- Research suggests that babies who are deaf or hard of hearing benefit from services provided early in life.
Babies learn language by listening and watching their families communicate around them. Imagine that a baby has a hearing loss, but no one knows about it. This can lead to slow development of speech and language, leading to later challenges in school.
Hospitals regularly screen newborn babies for a number of conditions, such as genetic disorders. Hearing loss is more common than any other problems or conditions that are screened for at birth. About one to three babies out of every 1,000 will be born with a permanent hearing loss.
Why Screen All Infants’ Hearing?
Hearing loss is one of the most common conditions in the pediatric population with 1-3 per 1,000 children born with hearing loss, and an increase in prevalence to 17 per 1,000 children by the age of 18 years who are affected by hearing loss. Children born deaf or hard of hearing are at risk for developmental delays in language and communication skills, social skills, and learning. Outcomes for these children can be maximized by identifying hearing loss during infancy and intervening before six months of age. Since hearing loss is invisible in most children, all children should receive screening and timely follow-up.
Brief Overview of Hearing Loss
Permanent hearing loss is caused by abnormalities in the auditory system. Hearing loss can be present in one or both ears and the degree of hearing loss is a spectrum, varying from mild to profound. The most common type of permanent hearing loss is sensorineural, meaning there is an issue located within the cochlea or inner ear. The most common type of permanent conductive hearing loss is atresia (the ear canal is closed). One of the least common types of permanent hearing loss is neural hearing loss, where the issue is isolated to the auditory neural pathways. Temporary hearing loss is caused by a blockage in the outer or middle ear. It is typically in the mild to moderate range. The most common cause of temporary conductive hearing loss in children is the presence of fluid in the middle ear.