Newborn Hearing Screening: Early Diagnosis and Its Importance
Hearing Development and Language Skills
Hearing is the cornerstone of language and speech development. Early detection of hearing loss is crucial for the mental, social, and academic development of a baby. A malfunctioning auditory system can negatively impact speech development, learning ability, and social integration.
What is Newborn Hearing Screening?
Newborn hearing screening is a program that ensures every baby is evaluated for hearing loss shortly after birth. In Turkey, this has been implemented as a national screening program since 2004.
- Purpose: To ensure babies born with hearing loss are diagnosed early and begin the rehabilitation process as soon as possible.
- Goal: To diagnose within the first 6 months and initiate the use of hearing aids and/or rehabilitation.
Methods Used in Hearing Screening
- Otoacoustic Emission (OAE) Test: Evaluates the ability of hair cells in the cochlea (inner ear) to detect sound.
- Auditory Brainstem Response (ABR or BERA): A more advanced test that measures how the brain processes auditory stimuli.
All newborns are first tested with the OAE method. Babies who do not pass are re-evaluated one week later. If the second test is also unsuccessful, an ABR test is performed for further assessment.
Who is at Risk?
Some babies are at higher risk for hearing loss and should be referred directly for an ABR test.
Risk Factors
- Family history of hearing loss
- Infections during pregnancy (Toxoplasmosis, CMV, Rubella, Syphilis, Herpes, etc.)
- Low birth weight (<1500 grams)
- Staying in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) for more than 2 days
- Need for mechanical ventilation after birth
- Meningitis, jaundice, or long-term use of ototoxic medications
These babies should be closely monitored for hearing loss.
Test Results and Follow-Up Process
Babies Who Pass the Test: No problems are detected in the hearing system, and normal hearing development is expected. However, parents should remain vigilant as hearing loss can develop later due to conditions like meningitis or high fever illnesses.
Babies Who Do Not Pass the Test: Re-evaluated after one week. If the second test also fails, the baby is referred to a specialized center for further examination.
Babies diagnosed with hearing loss within the first 6 months should receive early rehabilitation, including hearing aids or cochlear implants.
Conclusion
Early diagnosis of hearing loss allows children to develop speech and language skills on par with their peers. Newborn hearing screening is a critical step in helping children develop healthy hearing and communication abilities.
Prof. Dr. Elif Aksoy
ENT Specialist – Hearing and Language Development
