Newborns and Hearing Loss
Your newborn should have a hearing screening before being discharged from the hospital.
Every state and territory in the United States has now established an Early Hearing Detection
and Intervention (EHDI) program to identify before 3 months of age every child born with a
permanent hearing loss, and to provide intervention services before 6 months of age.
If your baby doesn’t have this screening, or was born at home or a birthing center,
it’s important to have a hearing screening within the first 3 weeks of life.
If your baby does not pass the hearing screening, it doesn’t necessarily mean there’s a hearing
loss. Because debris or fluid in the ear can interfere with the test, it’s often redone to confirm a diagnosis.
If your newborn doesn’t pass the initial hearing screening, it’s important to get a retest within
3 months so treatment can begin right away. Treatment for hearing loss can be the most effective
if it’s started by the time a child is 6 months old.
If your child seems to have trouble hearing, if speech development seems abnormal,
or if your child’s speech is difficult to understand, talk with your doctor or
call us at Saline Audiology to schedule a hearing evaluation.
501-778-3868 or 501-922-0053
