All babies have a hearing test soon after they are born. The hearing test measures whether your baby can hear well enough to learn to talk clearly. This is important for your baby’s development. If hearing impairment is detected early, treatment can begin at a very young age. The sooner treatment starts, the better your child will learn to talk. Someone from the well-baby clinic usually does the hearing test. The baby’s hearing is tested during a home visit, or the clinic calls you to make an appointment.

If your baby is in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU neonatale intensive care unit (neonatale intensive care unit )) for longer than 24 hours, your baby’s hearing will be tested there. Note: the well-baby clinic does not always know that your baby is in the NICU. The hospital does not always notify your local well-baby clinic. It is therefore important to let the well-baby clinic know that your baby is in the NICU.  

How to report that your baby is in the NICU

You can notify the well-baby clinic by:

• contacting the well-baby clinic by phone or e-mail;
• telling the person from the well-baby clinic when they stop by your home;
• notifying the well-baby clinic when you call to make an appointment.

Why is your baby’s hearing tested at the NICU?

The standard hearing test used by the well-baby clinic (OAE test) should not be used for babies who spent more than 24 hours in the NICU. Babies who are admitted to NICU have a higher risk of hearing impairment that involves the auditory nerve. This type of hearing impairment is known as auditory neuropathy. It cannot be detected with a standard hearing test. That is why a different test (AABR test) is used for babies in the NICU. The test is a better method for your baby’s age and situation.

Would you like to know more? 

Isala Hospitals offers information about hearing tests for newborns in multiple languages, including English(PDF). You can also call your local well-baby clinic if you have any questions.