A newborn hearing screen is a test used as a screening tool for the early identification of hearing loss. This test helps to ensure that all babies who are deaf or hard of hearing (HOH) are identified as soon as possible. HOH infants need the right support, care, and resources to promote healthy development because if it’s not diagnosed early, it may negatively impact the child's academic achievement and social-emotional development.
California State Law requires EVERY baby to have a hearing screen before they are discharged home from the hospital. This includes every NICU and non-NICU baby. Each hospital calls a hearing screen by a different name, and some of these names may include:
ALGO — which is the brand name of the machine used
AABR — “Automated Auditory Brainstem Response” assessment
OAE — “otoacoustic emissions” exam
Regardless of what it’s called, the screen is performed the exact same way and measures how the hearing nerve & brain respond to different sounds, clicks, and tones. It is completely painless, quick and easy. Different sounds are played through soft earphones that are placed into the baby's ears. The device measures the sound that comes back and the results are displayed on the screen.
If the device detects a response, the results are displayed as "Pass." If no response is detected, the result is displayed as “Refer.” If a baby refers on one or both ears, the exam can be repeated again and does NOT necessarily mean that hearing loss is present. If the baby refers a second time, this won’t prevent the baby from going home but will require further follow-up and testing with audiology outpatient.
There are some factors that can cause a false positive for hearing loss. These include:
Vernix in the ear canal
Excessive background noise
Fluid in the middle ear
Improper/poor fit of the ear piece
Movement or crying during the exam
In addition, some medications that are given to babies can cause hearing loss; these include:
NSAIDs such as ibuprofen
Large quantities of aspirin
Loop diuretics intended for heart problems or blood pressure
Certain antibiotics used to treat kidney disease — AKA the “aminoglycoside” group (gentamicin, tobramycin, etc.)
NICU babies are at an increased risk for hearing loss, especially if they have been diagnosed with an infection such as meningitis or congenital herpes, a head injury, or have been exposed to damaging levels of loud noise or secondhand smoke. Hearing is important for a baby’s speech + learning development, which is why early detection & intervention can make a HUGE difference in their communication + language development!
Now take a guess: do you think babies like or hate this little test? Drop your guess in the comments below!