What Is an Infant Hearing Test and Why Is It Important

Nov 20, 2019

Infant Hearing test

If you’ve ever seen a newborn, you’ll likely agree that they look pretty perfect – tiny fingers and toes with little wrinkles all in the right places, blemish-free skin, fine hair, and beautiful eyes that touch your heart. Inside all that outward perfection, however, there could be some imperfections lurking – things like hearing impairments that aren’t visible to the naked eye. This is why an infant hearing test is so important.

What is an infant hearing test

Babies themselves are nothing short of a miracle. How they start out as a tiny embryo and end up as a mini version of yourself in your arms in the delivery room is mind-boggling. It’s also amazing how they’re born with everything they need … or at least they are most of the time. Sometimes, genetic or environmental factors play a role in not giving newborns what they need. This is when modern healthcare can be a huge benefit – we can discover what’s missing, how to treat it, and the baby can then progress from there.

In the
old days, parents often did not even know that their baby had a hearing problem
until much later. Now, infants can undergo hearing
screening
before they even leave the hospital. Depending on the test
performed, potential problems with the nerves responsible for hearing can be
identified, or abnormalities in how the ear processes sound can be found. Both
are useful in determining whether or not an infant has hearing loss or other
hearing impairment.

Why are infant hearing tests important?

Healthy hearing is
important for the proper growth and development of any child. Your baby will
start to learn as soon as it’s born, and being able to hear well will help it detect
and interpret various environmental stimuli. These are then used in the
development of speech and language. Studies have shown that when hearing
impairments are not identified and treated before 6 months of age, children
will encounter speech and language problems later on in development. Infant
hearing testing
helps these impairments be discovered before they can negatively affect other
areas of development.

What types of hearing tests are available
for infants?

Unlike some medical procedures, infant hearing tests are quick and painless. In many cases, the baby even sleeps through the entire procedure. There are two main types of an infant hearing test available:

  1. Auditory
    Brainstem Response (ABR) –
    This measures the functioning of the
    nerves responsible for hearing. Sound is played through soft headphones in the
    baby’s ears and a series of three electrodes attached to her head measure the
    nerves’ response to the sound.
  2. Oto-acoustic Emissions (OAE)This test measures the
    function of the cochlea and how it produces and responds to sound. Small probes
    are inserted into the infant’s ear canals. When sound is played, the probes
    measure the cochlea’s response, giving the doctor clues to the status of the
    child’s hearing.

What do I do if my newborn fails her
hearing test?

The
purpose of newborn hearing testing is to identify any hearing abnormalities
early on so that they can be addressed. Sometimes, however, the results are
inconclusive or incorrect. Test results can be misleading if the testing room
was noisy, if the infant moved too much or had fluid in her ears during the
test, or if the testing equipment didn’t fit well.

If any abnormalities are discovered during the newborn infant testing, schedule an appointment with an audiologist as soon as possible. This hearing professional will do a further hearing evaluation, if necessary, and determine whether or not your child does, in fact, have hearing loss or other impairment. Once a final determination is made, the cause of hearing loss can often be found and treated. Possible treatment options include assistive listening devices such as hearing aids, cochlear implants, or treatment for another medical condition that may be causing the hearing problem.

The bottom line is that hearing is important for the normal development of your child. If you or your baby’s doctor suspect any hearing impairments, it’s important for them to have an infant hearing test right away, to get any potential hearing loss identified and treated early.

The post What Is an Infant Hearing Test and Why Is It Important appeared first on Hear Well – Live Well.

Source: Hear Well-Live Well Blog

What Is an Infant Hearing Test and Why Is It Important was last modified: November 20th, 2019 by joey

Your Audiologist in Scottsdale & Mesa

We promise to always take the time to listen and talk with you one-on-one, ensuring that we answer all your questions thoroughly.

Mesa Office

480-376-7076
Mon – Fri | 8am – 5pm

North & South Scottsdale Offices

480-608-9817
Mon – Fri | 8am – 6pm

We Accept Most Insurances

Mesa Office - Advanced Hearing Group

South Scottsdale Office - Advanced Hearing Group

North Scottsdale Office - Advanced Hearing Group

Recent News

Traveling With Hearing Aids: Important Tips and Considerations

If you have hearing loss, traveling with hearing aids doesn’t have to be an arduous ordeal. But if you don’t plan ahead, you could find yourself facing some situations where your hearing aids aren’t performing at their best. And when you can’t hear well, you won’t...

Hearing Loss in Children: Early Detection and Intervention

Hearing plays a pivotal role in a child's developmental journey, shaping their ability to communicate, learn, and engage with the world around them. Yet, despite its significance, hearing loss in children is more prevalent than often acknowledged.   According to...

Understanding Tinnitus: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment

While tinnitus can be a persistent challenge, understanding its causes and symptoms is a crucial step toward effective management. Whether through lifestyle adjustments, medical interventions, or therapeutic approaches, there are various treatment options available....

Audiology Services For Seniors: Improving Quality of Life

As we age, various aspects of our health require more attention, and hearing is no exception. For older individuals, maintaining good hearing health is essential for a high quality of life. Audiology services for seniors play a significant role in addressing...

Want MORE hearing tips, news and information?

Check out more from our blog to stay up to date on hearing aid and hearing services industry tips, news and more!

Audiologists diagnose and treat hearing loss