Newborn hearing screening

The newborn hearing screening is used to help identify if a baby may be deaf or have hearing loss. It is offered to all parents of babies in the UK.

The screening will not show for sure if a baby is deaf or has hearing loss – it just identifies those who may need further tests. Most babies who do not get a clear response at their initial screening are not deaf but it is important to identify those who are.

Newborn hearing screening is not compulsory, but it is recommended as the earlier parents know that their child has a hearing loss, the earlier help and support can be offered.

This is important for children’s development and makes sure children and families can get the information they need right from the start.

How does the newborn hearing screening work?

The newborn hearing screening is offered to all babies in the UK. Ideally, it should be done within the first 4 to 5 weeks after a baby is born, but it can be up to 3 months (or 6 months in Northern Ireland).

If you give birth at a hospital, you may be offered a test before you’re discharged. If not, you will be offered an appointment at a later date.

Newborn hearing screening involves two tests: the automated otoacoustic emission (AOAE) test and the automated auditory brainstem response test (AABR).

The tests are quick, simple and completely painless for babies.

Automated otoacoustic emission (AOAE) test

All babies are offered the AOAE test shortly after birth. It only takes a few minutes.

During the test, a specially trained hearing screener or health visitor will place a soft-tipped probe in your baby’s ear and play a series of clicking sounds. If your baby's inner ear (the cochlea) is working effectively, it should produce a faint response to the clicking sounds.

It’s not always possible to get a clear response the first time, but this does not necessarily mean your baby has a permanent hearing loss. It could be because:

• there was background noise during the test
• your baby was unsettled
• your baby has fluid or a temporary blockage in their ear.

The hearing screener or health visitor may repeat the test if there is no clear result.

Automated auditory brainstem response test (AABR)

If there is no clear response from one or both ears during the first test, parents will be offered an AABR test. This will also be offered to babies who have been in a Special Care Baby Unit (SCBU) for 48 hours or longer or who have a known risk of hearing loss.

The AABR test involves placing three small sensors on your baby’s head and playing gentle clicking noises through soft headphones. This test takes between 5 to 15 minutes. 

What happens next?

If your baby’s newborn screening results were not clear, you’ll be referred to the audiology clinic for more tests.

If your baby is referred, it doesn’t necessarily mean that they are permanently deaf. They could have had fluid from birth in their ear canal or temporary hearing loss, like glue ear.

Further tests at the audiology clinic will confirm if your baby’s hearing loss is permanent or temporary. As your baby gets older, their hearing tests will be repeated to get a clearer picture of their hearing loss.

Your audiologist (a health professional who specialises in hearing) will take you through the results of your baby’s hearing tests. They will explain:

• the sounds your baby can and can not hear
• the level of your baby’s deafness
• the possible reasons why your baby has a hearing loss
• the support that could be beneficial for you and your baby

You can ask your audiologist any questions you have. You may like to take a list of questions to the appointment. You can also ask for copies or take photos of test results and reports for your records.

It is very important that you feel comfortable with the management of your baby’s hearing loss. If you’re not happy, it’s OK to ask for a second opinion. There’s no legal right to have a second opinion on the NHS, but it’s rarely refused if you ask.

Support and information

Many deaf children are born to hearing parents who have little or no experience of deafness. It’s common to feel sad, worried or even angry when you find out your baby has hearing loss. 

There are also many deaf parents of deaf children who may feel unsure about navigating services for their child. 

If you need more information and support, we’re here for you. You might like to:

• contact our free Helpline – our advisors can answer your questions and put you in touch with a local advice and guidance officer.
• join a local deaf children’s group