Download Hearing test - Babyscreening

Information for parents
Hearing test
of your newborn baby
In Denmark, it has been decided that all newborn babies should be offered a hearing test, a socalled hearing screening.
In the County of Aarhus, it has been decided to link this offer to the place of birth, so that the
test can be performed either during your stay at the Maternity Ward or the Neonatal
Department or as an outpatient in the days following the birth.
Babies who are not screened during hospitalisation will be offered a screening appointment as
soon as possible.
The hearing test takes approx. 10 minutes. It is performed while your baby is asleep and there
is absolutely no discomfort to your baby. A small soft earplug is inserted into your baby’s ear.
The earplug transmits weak clicking sounds and a computer shows how your baby’s ear
reacts. As the baby’s parent(s), you will be present during the entire test, and you will be given
the result immediately after the test.
The test is of course voluntary.
Why perform hearing tests?
On average, fourteen babies are born with hearing impairment in the County of Aarhus every
year, and in most cases no members of the baby’s closest family have hearing impairment.
For the individual child, any loss of hearing can mean a lot, as the child misses many of the
sounds that contribute to forming a balanced perception of the world. If hearing loss is detected
early, there are, however, good chances of relieving this by means of a hearing aid and by
stimulating the auditory (hearing) centres in the brain.
Today, we know that the very first years are crucial for the development of a child’s auditory
centres in the brain. The sooner the centres are stimulated, the greater the chance of a child
with impaired hearing being able to hear and develop speech skills. That is why all parents are
offered a hearing test for their newborn babies.
Where and when?
In the County of Aarhus, you can choose between five test centres.
Aarhus University Hospital – Skejby Sygehus: Patienthotellet (Patient Hotel)
Randers Centralsygehus (Randers Hospital): Patienthotellet (Patient Hotel)
Silkeborg Centralsygehus (Silkeborg Hospital) Jordemoderhuset (Midwife Centre), Vibevej 8
Skanderborg: Skanderborg Sundhedscenter (Skanderborg Health Centre), Sygehusvej 7, 1st
floor
Samsø: Samsø Sygehus (Samsø Hospital)
How is the hearing test performed?
Testing your baby’s hearing involves one or two screening methods, which are both
uncomplicated and quick:
• A small soft earplug is inserted into your baby’s ear, and the earplug transmits clicking sounds
into your baby’s ear canal. When the inner ear (cochlea) receives the clicking sounds, the ear
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creates an echo and a computer shows how your baby’s ear reacts to sounds. This will only
take a couple of minutes. The test is called an OtoAcoustic Emission (OAE) test.
• Three small sensors (electrodes) are placed on your baby’s head:
One on the forehead and one behind each ear. In this test, a small soft earplug is also inserted
into one of your baby’s ears. Clicking sounds are transmitted through the earplug, and a
computer measures whether the brain registers the sounds. The test is called an Automatic
Auditory Brainstem Response (AABR) test.
How do I best prepare for the screening?
It is easier to perform the hearing test when your baby is asleep. It is therefore a good idea to:
• Ensure that your baby has a clean nappy.
• Feed your baby just before the test.
What does the result tell?
The screening shows whether your baby’s reaction to sounds is clear or not.
If the screening shows a very clear reaction, your baby has most likely no hearing impairment.
If you subsequently become worried about your child’s hearing, you should contact your own
doctor or an ear specialist. Children may develop hearing impairment later in life, most often
because of liquid in the middle ear as a result of inflammation of the middle ear.
If the screening does not show a clear reaction, it does not necessarily mean that your baby
has a hearing loss. There may be other simple explanations as to why there is no clear
reaction. It may often be due to background noise or because your baby is restless. In addition,
babies may have foetal fat or amniotic fluid in their ear, something which is very common in
newborn babies and which goes away by itself.
Irrespective of why there is no clear reaction, the hearing test will be repeated.
If the two tests are not satisfactory for one or both ears, you will be referred to the nearest
department of audiology.
This does not necessarily mean that your baby has impaired hearing. At the department of
audiology, a follow-up hearing test will be performed. It may take a bit longer and can provide
you with more information about your baby’s hearing.
Where can I get more information?
If you want more information about the test, please contact the maternity ward or the clinic
where the screening test will be performed.
You can also get more information from your doctor, your district nurse or the Department of
Audiology. You will find the addresses and telephone numbers below:
Aarhus University Hospital – Skejby Sygehus
Patienthotellet (Patient Hotel)
Brendstrupgårdsvej
Tel. 89 49 60 64
Telephone hours: weekdays from 8 am to 9 am
Randers Centralsygehus (Randers Hospital)
Patienthotellet (Patient Hotel)
2
Skovlyvej 1
Tel. 89 10 30 00
Silkeborg Centralsygehus (Silkeborg Hospital)
Jordemodercenteret (Midwife Centre)
Vibevej 8
Tel. 86 82 59 15
Telephone hours: weekdays from 12 noon to 1 pm
Samsø Sygehus (Samsø Hospital)
Tel.: 89 49 11 10
Telephone hours: 1 pm to 2 pm
Department of Audiology
Aarhus University Hospital – Århus Sygehus
Tel.: 89 49 31 10
www.babyscreening.dk
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