Newborn Hearning Screenings

Last week, I was invited to Interior Health's information meeting on newborn hearing screenings.

My numbers may be off as I am going from memory but my notes are at the office if someone wants more information.

1. In BC, in any given year, 10% of the population has some form of hearing loss. In BC, 120 - 160 new born babies will be born with a hearing loss. Degree of loss is varied.

2. While educators of D/HH (deaf and hard of hearing) know that giving a child langague before the age of 5 is the best way for success, research has found that the frist 6 months of a baby's life is more important for language accquistion than previously thought. Therefore, the ministry of health has set up the newborn hearing screenings so that every child that is born should have it done either before they leave the hospital (if it is offered there), or by an appointment with the health authority before not too long after leaving the hosptial (those of you who have home births, you would check with either your midwife/doola/doctor ect). This way, any hearing loss is detected and intervention can begin - whether it is sign, hearing aids, cochlear implant or a combination. This way, the child will have the best chance at having langauge at the same level as thier hearing peers.
3. This procedure is totally NON invasive. The mother and baby goes to the technician, the baby should be sleeping and electrodes are placed on parts (head and shoulder) of the baby to read the brain stem waves. Sound is passed through the ears (there is a 'cup' that goes over the baby's ears) and a reading (accuarate) is taken. This takes place in a very quite room, with a comfy chair for the mom to hold her baby as this takes place. If memory serves me correct, this should take no more than 1/2 hour. Once done, the results are read (I am not sure if at the same time or a return appointment) and if there is a hearing loss (remember only 10% of population) then intervention is discussed and it goes on from there.
4. If the baby has a hearing loss that requires a hearing aid, the ear molds have to me made every 6 - 8 weeks (the ears grow). This and the hearing aids are provided free up to the age of 5 (my soap box is why can't gov't pay for school aged kids too?). Hearing aid molds are not painful to get - goo gets put in the ears, it feels cold, and then it is taken out and sent away to be made into a mold.

That is it. A very important screening to be done for sure.