Written By: Women and Infants on January 6, 2022
Audiology screening entails tests that show how you hear various sounds. A hearing screening can be conducted on anyone at any age. The screening results produce one of two outcomes; either you pass or fail the test. In a scenario where an individual fails the test, further tests are conducted to determine hearing problems. Mostly, infants have audiology screening before leaving the hospital, but in cases where a parent may notice a problem in their children's hearing ability, they can always consult an audiologist.
The Department of Audiology at Women & Infants Hospital offers hearing screening services to children and adults. Our team is highly trained and experienced in diagnosing and managing hearing issues that result from aging, middle ear disease, exposure to noise, and other causes.
Primarily, audiology screening is performed on babies soon after birth. Frequently, most babies fail the hearing test, but this does not mean your baby has hearing loss. For better results, audiologists advise taking another test.
Audiology screening in children is always painless and relatively simple. Auditory Brainstem Response (ABR) and Otoacoustic Emissions (OAEs) are the two standard audiology screening procedures conducted on babies. If your baby fails the first screening, you are supposed to take them to an audiologist for a complete hearing test so that it can be determined if they have hearing loss.
It is crucial to figure out whether your baby has hearing loss as early as possible to get them the necessary help. Passing the first screening does not guarantee that your baby may not develop any hearing problems later. For this reason, regular audiology screening is advised.
In a situation where your baby fails the second screening, the hospital refers to a pediatric audiologist who proceeds to perform a diagnostic hearing test. During the hearing screening, place tiny earphones in your baby's ears. The tests are then measured to determine your child's response to the sound in the earphones while they are asleep. Through a diagnostic hearing test, you can identify if one has hearing loss, the extent to which they have lost their hearing ability, and the suitable measures to take next.
Audiologists use a pure-tone test procedure to perform audiological screening in adults. Adults put on earphones and raise their hands when they hear any beeping sound in this procedure. This procedure should be done once a decade until an adult attains 50 years. Your hearing should also be screened after every three years, and this is because as you get older, you may experience hearing loss. Regular audiology screening will help keep track of your hearing and identify when to seek help.
It is challenging to identify hearing loss, the reason being that it is invisible. Nearly every two to three of 1000 babies born globally have hearing loss. If an audiology test is not performed, the babies are exposed to a risk of developing language and speech delays. Through audiology screening, audiology can identify hearing aids that can help children access sound and other technologies devised to solve hearing loss. Hearing aids can also help solve the problem of language and speech delays. If your child has untreated hearing loss, they will also develop difficulties learning, speaking, reading, and surviving in school.
It is important to note that infant audiology screening is only reliable at birth. However, with time, some babies experience hearing loss. As a parent or guardian, you should pay close attention to your child's reaction to sounds. You should also keep track of their language and speech development.
It would be best if you asked your doctor to order further diagnostic hearing tests in case of any concerns. Contact us for the most efficient and effective help with your hearing conditions.
