Newborn Hearing Screening

Some babies are unable to hear all the sounds needed to develop speech and language.  

Early detection of hearing loss is important. Early treatment and support for families give children a good chance of learning to talk and communicate as well as children who hear normally. 

Newborn hearing screening should be performed as soon as practicable after birth and ideally within the first 30 days of life. Babies can be screened from six hours after birth and are usually screened before discharge from hospital. 

If a baby is discharged before their hearing screen is completed, screening can be arranged as an outpatient appointment. Families who choose a home birth will also need to arrange an outpatient hearing screening. To make an appointment at our Hear Today Clinic in West Perth, or at your discharging hospital where available, please contact Ear Foundation’s Newborn Hearing Screening team on 0457 443 042. 

Trained newborn hearing screeners perform the screen. The screener will discuss the process with you prior to the screen and answer any questions that you may have about it.

Before the screen commences, each baby’s caregiver will need to sign a consent form, and ensure the baby is well settled and recently fed.

The screener records the contact details of the baby’s parent, guardian or caregiver, including the home address and contact phone numbers. The screener also records any risk factors that may be associated with hearing loss. This information is treated as confidential and in compliance with national privacy legislation.

The Maico ABR easyScreen is used to screen all newborn babies born in private maternity hospitals in Western Australia. The Screener attaches 3 sticky tabs and 2 earphones (ear cups) to your baby. The sticky tabs are positioned on your baby’s cheek, shoulder and forehead, and the earphones nestle around your baby’s ears. Your baby hears a number of soft clicking sounds during the screening. The easyScreen screens your baby’s hearing pathways and indicates whether further testing is required.

The best time to screen your baby is when they are recently fed, asleep and in a quiet place. It is best that electronic equipment such as mobile phones, televisions and radios are turned off during this process. It is also important that people in the room remain quiet. The Newborn Hearing Screener will offer to screen your baby in the hospital room. The Screener may suggest that you and your baby move to a quieter part of the maternity ward to complete the screen if your room is unsuitable for any reason.

The screen takes approximately three minutes.

The screen is non-invasive and most babies remain asleep during the screen. 

Results are available immediately. Your baby will either “pass” the screening or will get a “refer” result.

A pass result means that your baby has adequate hearing to develop speech and language at the time of screening. It is important to remember that sometimes a baby can develop hearing loss during their first few years of life so regular tests are recommended if you become concerned about your child’s hearing.

If your baby has a refer result then a second screen will be undertaken (usually the day after the first screen or as close to discharge as practicable). There are several reasons why a baby has a refer result in one or both ears. These include:

• Baby became unsettled during the first screening  
• Screening took place when baby’s ear canal was not completely clear – a temporary condition that can resolve over the next few days or weeks.  
• Baby has a hearing loss in one or both ears. 

It is important that a baby with a refer result has a second screen.

An IDT assessment is performed by a paediatric audiologist and takes a closer look at your baby’s hearing. This assessment provides more specific and detailed results.

If a follow-up IDT assessment is required, a referral will be arranged immediately after the hearing screen. Appointment wait times may vary depending on whether families choose to access services through the public health system or a private provider. 

For babies whose caregivers hold a Medicare card, there are no out-of-pocket costs for IDTs, regardless of whether the assessment is provided through the public or private system. Ear Foundation is a private provider of Infant Diagnostic Tests and offers appointments with minimal wait times. Contact the NBHS team on 0457 443 042 for the next available IDT appointment. 

Newborn Hearing Screening is offered in all maternity hospitals in Western Australia. Ear Foundation Australia provides the service in private maternity hospitals located in Perth and Geraldton. These services include St John of God (Subiaco, Murdoch, and Geraldton) and Ramsay Health Care Hospital in Joondalup.