The hearing test is a mandatory test by law that must be performed in the maternity ward, in infants, to evaluate hearing and detect an early degree of deafness in the baby.
This test is free, easy and does not hurt the baby and is usually done during sleep between the second and third day of the baby’s life. In some cases, a repeat test may be recommended after 30 days, especially when there is an increased risk of hearing problems, such as premature, low-weight babies, or whose mothers had an infection during pregnancy that was not adequately treated.
- The ear test aims to identify changes in your baby’s hearing.
- So this is an important test for early diagnosis of deafness.
- For example.
- In addition.
- This test identifies minor hearing changes that may interfere with the speech development process.
Thus, thanks to the hearing test, the speech therapist and pediatrician can evaluate the baby’s hearing ability and, if necessary, indicate the initiation of a specific treatment.
The hearing test is a simple test that doesn’t cause pain or discomfort to your baby. In this test, your doctor places a device in your baby’s ear that emits a sound stimulus and measures its return through a small tube that is also inserted into the baby’s ear.
For example, in about 5 to 10 minutes, your doctor can check for any changes that need to be studied and treated. If a disability has been found during the hearing test, the baby should be referred for a more complete hearing test so that the diagnosis can be completed and appropriate treatment can be applied.
The ear test is a mandatory test and is indicated in the first days of life while still in the maternity ward, and is usually done between the 2nd and 3rd day of life. Although suitable for all newborns, some babies are more likely to develop hearing problems and therefore the ear test is very important. Therefore, the risk of your baby undergoing the modified hearing test is higher when:
In such cases, it is important that, regardless of the result, the test is repeated after 30 days.
The test can change in one ear, when the baby has fluid in his or her ear, which may be amniotic fluid. In this case, the test should be repeated after 1 month.
When your doctor identifies changes in both ears, you can immediately indicate that parents are taking the baby to an otolaryngologist or speech therapist to confirm the diagnosis and begin treatment. In addition, it may be necessary to observe the baby’s development, trying to see if he hears well. At 7 and 12 months, your pediatrician may re-run the hearing test to evaluate your baby’s hearing.
The following table shows how your child’s hearing develops
The best way to know if your baby isn’t listening well is to take it to your doctor for testing. In your doctor’s office, your pediatrician may perform certain tests that show your child has a hearing disability and if confirmed may indicate the use of a hearing aid that can be done as well.
See other tests the baby should take immediately after birth.