My name is Jocelin and I'm a newborn hearing screener.
Newborn hearing screening helps identify babies with permanent hearing loss, as early as possible. Finding out early gives the baby a better chance of developing language, speech and communication skills.
I usually offer the screening test before the mum and baby are discharged from the hospital. In some areas, they may be carried out in the baby's home. Regardless, the screening test must be done before the baby is four to five weeks old.
The screening test is quick and simple and most importantly, it doesn't hurt your baby. I place a soft tip ear piece in baby's ear. It plays gentle clicking sounds. The machine measures the echoes inside the baby's ears when the clicking sounds are heard. If we don't get a clear response, it doesn't necessarily mean that your baby has a hearing loss. If this does happen, we offer your baby a second screen. For both screening tests, the results are instant.
The hearing test does not pick up all types of hearing loss, so it's important for parents to check their baby's hearing as they grow.
Your baby's red book has a checklist of sounds your baby should make and sounds they should react to, to help.
If parents have any worries about their baby's development, they should speak to their doctor or health visitor.
What's the role of a hearing screener?
Jocelin Bentil explains how she tests newborns' hearing to pick up early on anything that might affect their speech and language abilities.
