Newborn hearing screening
What is newborn hearing screening?
One or two babies in every 1000 are born with a hearing loss that may affect their speech and language development. Newborn hearing screening helps to find those babies and offer help and support from the start.
Babies are offered screening once they are born.
Most of these babies will be born into families where no-one else has a hearing loss. Finding out early is important for your baby’s development. This means you can get more support and information to help you and your baby.
Hearing screening tells us which babies may have a hearing loss. The screening test shows us which babies need more tests to decide if they have a hearing loss.
Screening does not detect all hearing loss or prevent future hearing difficulties.
Taking part in screening is something you can do to look after your baby’s health.
This animation gives information on the hearing screening test that you will be offered for your baby once they are born.
What to expect at the screen
Learn how your baby’s hearing is screened, when and where the test is done, what to expect during the appointment, and the types of tests used.
What to expect at the audiology clinic
Learn what it means if your baby is referred for a hearing assessment, what happens at the audiology clinic, how the tests are done, and what the results could mean.
Get in touch
If you would like to get in touch, you can contact us here.
Further information
Reports
Newborn hearing screening programme reports
Data
Newborn hearing screening uptake/coverage data
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