L2.3.3: Newborn Hearing Screening Test

Created by

Ayen B.

Cards (9)

Newborn Hearing Screening Test
● Provided by Republic Act No. 9709 paved way for the Universal Hearing Screening (UNHS) and Intervention Act of 2009
○ Established the universal hearing screening program for the prevention, early diagnosis, and intervention of hearing loss.
○ Requires all newborns to have accesst o this screening.
● Newborn Hearing Screening Test
○ A test done on the newborn to detect congenital hearing loss
○ A test that shows hearing impairment or unclear results is usually followed up with a detailed diagnostic assessment carried by an audiologist.
Newborn Hearing Screening Test
Early detection AVOIDS the following:
● Delay in language acquisition
● Poor communication skills
● Low educational attainment
● Inadequate social skills
Newborn Hearing Screening Test
Where does SCREENING take place? Done in a hospital or birthing facility
Who can PERFORM THE TESTS? Trained:
● Audometrists
● Audiologists
● Licensed health professionals
Currently Acceptable Standard Newborn Hearing Screening Methods:
1. Automated Auditory Brainstem Response (AABR)
2. Otoacoustic Emissions (OAE)
Newborn Hearing Screening Method
AABR
Measures how the hearing nerve responds to sounds and can identify babies who have hearing loss.
● More comprehensive since it tests the entire auditory pathway including the auditory or vestibulocochlear nerve and brainstem via electrical activity
Newborn Hearing Screening Method AABR
RESULTS:
Positive
● The newborn’s auditory system has responded to the sounds appropriately
Negative
● Hearing or auditory issues
Newborn Hearing Screening Method
OAE
Sounds are played and a response is measured. If a baby hears normally, an echo is reflected back into the ear canal and is measured by the microphone.
● It is the most commonly done procedure
Newborn Hearing Screening Method OAE
RESULTS:
Positive
● Echo is reflected back upon hearing the sound played by device
Negative
● No echo