Why is it important for me to know about my baby's hearing now?
Hearing impairment in infants is easy to ignore because it is invisible and infants
and toddlers cannot tell us they are unable to hear. Yet, hearing impairment is
the most common birth defect - 6 out of 1000 babies are born with it - and one
of the most treatable. Because babies learn to speak by listening, a child who
is unable to hear normally will not develop speech and language normally. The
most critical years for the development of language are from birth to three years
of age. Early identification of hearing impairments enables us to give the child
the special attention needed to aid in language development as well as in social,
emotional and academic development.
How can my baby's hearing be screened?
St. Vincent's offers newborn screening with ALGO Newborn Hearing Screener. This
is a routine test, done to rule out the possibility of your baby having an undetected
hearing loss. Hearing loss affects 6 out of every 1000 newborns. If not detected
and treated early, hearing loss can contribute to permanent difficulty in speaking
and in using language.
The ALGO screening procedure is based on the Auditory
Brainstem Response (ABR) and is the most widely-recognized standard of hearing
sensitivity for newborns. The procedure is painless-most babies are asleep throughout
the test.
This test sends thousands of soft clicking sounds to your baby's
ears. Each click generates a response from a special area of your baby's brain
called the "auditory brainstem." Sensors on the baby's skin pick up
these responses and transmit them to the ALGO.
The ALGO compares your baby's
brainstem response to the pattern for normal hearing. Once a number of brainstem
responses match, the ALGO will generate a "PASS" result.
What
does PASS/REFER mean?
The instrument will test each ear independently.
If you baby PASSES his or her screening, you can feel confident that he or she
can hear even the softest sounds required for speech and language development.
However, continue to monitor your baby's speech and language development. Some
childhood accidents and diseases can cause hearing loss so contact your baby's
doctor if you are concerned. A REFER means only that further testing is recommended.
Your baby's doctor can discuss this with you.
What happens if my baby
REFERS?
If the baby REFERS on either ear, your pediatrician will be notified
and he will discuss further testing with you. There are some "normal"
reasons that your baby may REFER (such as vernix or fluid in ears after delivery).
How
long does the test take?
The screening takes approximately fifteen minutes
provided that your baby is quiet. The screening time depends entirely upon how
quietly your baby is resting.
Is this test painful to my baby?
No. The test is completely painless and most infants sleep through the testing.
Where
is the test performed?
Bedside in the nursery.
Who does the test?
The test is performed by specially trained hospital associates and volunteers.
The results will be reviewed by your pediatrician.
