Hearing Tests in Newborns

Hearing loss is a serious problem that may not be obvious in newborns and infants. Babies with hearing loss are unable to communicate either verbally or non-verbally and respond to oral commands. As the child grows, the general development of the child gets affected and she may develop behavioral problems. Decreased hearing can affect the development of the auditory nervous system. This, in turn, can affect speech perception, which could interfere in the later social life of the individual, affecting his/her educational achievements, ability to get a good job and be economically self sufficient.

Though studies indicate a high prevalence of hearing loss in children in India, screening with hearing tests for newborns are not yet routinely carried out in India.

Health Animation - Anatomy of the Ear and Hearing

The anxious parents may subject the child to various tests to diagnose the condition.  A simple hearing test in such circumstances may help to diagnose any hearing problem in the infant.  Thus, routine screening with hearing tests in newborns could help to detect and treat any hearing problem early and keep the overall development of the child on tract.

Permanent hearing loss occurs in around one to two out of every 1000 children.  Nearly half of newborns with hearing loss do not have any risk factors which can predetermine if they are likely to suffer from hearing loss.  Others may have one or more risk factors, some of which are listed below:

Admission in the Intensive Care Unit for more than 2 days

History of hereditary hearing loss in the family

Structural abnormalities in the head and face

Certain syndromes present from birth like Usher syndrome and Waardenburg syndrome

Infections acquired while the baby is still in the uterus like cytomegalovirus, toxoplasmosis, bacterial meningitis, syphilis, herpes, and rubella (German measles).