Homerton: Newborn hearing screening

Our services

Newborn hearing screening

We are part of the national programme - Newborn Hearing Screening Programme (NHSP).

baby photo

Mission Statement

The NHS Newborn Hearing Screening Programme Vision:
'Improving outcomes for every child through a high quality hearing screening programme, safe and effective assessments and family centred intervention'.

to ensure equality of access to newborn hearing screening and in doing so reduce health inequalities
to offer high quality newborn hearing screening to the parents of 99% of babies born in England
to offer all babies who record 'no clear response' to the initial screening, further safe and effective audiological assessment
to identify all children born with moderate to profound permanent bilateral deafness within 4-5 weeks of birth
to improve outcomes for every child identified with moderate to profound permanent deafness through effective rehabilitation
to promote and develop family friendly integrated services which support effective early intervention for deaf children
to empower parents to make informed choices for their child throughout the entire newborn hearing care pathway
to be recognised as the world's leading newborn hearing screening programme, sharing the latest research and best practice guidance.

Newborn hearing screening (Homerton CHS)

(Part of NHS Newborn Hearing Screening Programme (NHSP))

Have your baby’s hearing checked!

About the programme:

The Newborn Hearing Screen helps to identify babies with a hearing loss very early in life so that any necessary treatment can begin before 6 months of age, the crucial period in a baby's life for speech and language development.

Every year 1 to 2 in every 1,000 children are born with a hearing loss. Most of these babies are born into families with no history of hearing loss. Profound deafness and hearing impairment can have a huge impact on a child’s language, communication and overall development.

It is important to have your baby’s hearing tested before leaving the hospital or soon after discharge from hospital but ideally before one month of age. The screening team offer newborn hearing screening to all eligible babies as soon as possible after birth at Homerton hospital or at a number of clinics at health centres in Hackney.

About the hearing screen:

The test uses quick and simple methods to check your baby’s hearing. It does not hurt and is not uncomfortable. The screening test will usually be done while your baby is asleep or settled and it only will take a few minutes. During the test a small soft-tipped earpiece will be placed in the outer part of your baby's ear.

This sends clicking sounds into your baby's ear. The inner part of the ear usually produces an echo when it receives sound, and the screening equipment can pick up this response. You will be given the results as soon as the hearing screening test is done. If the test shows a clear response from both of your baby's ears, it is unlikely that your baby will have hearing loss.

If the test does not show a clear response from both ears, your baby will need to have a second test. It does not necessarily mean your baby has hearing problems. This may be required because your baby may have been unsettled while the test was carried out, there may have been some background noise, or your baby may have some fluid in it’s ear which is very common and will resolve with time.

The second screening test may also be done in hospital, or at a local health centre. The second test may be the same as the first one or baby may also be offered another type of test, called the automated auditory brainstem response (AABR) screening test. In this test, three small sensors will be placed on your baby's forehead, neck and shoulders. Soft headphones will be placed over your baby's ears and some clicking sounds will be played through the headphones. The screening equipment shows how well your baby's ears respond to these sounds.

The test can take between 5 and 30 minutes and you can stay with your baby while it's carried out. Like the first test, it does not hurt, it is not uncomfortable, and it is usually carried out while your baby is asleep or settled. If the second test shows a clear response from both of your baby's ears, your baby is unlikely to have a hearing loss.

Further follow-up and intervention:

If the test does not show a clear response from both ears, you will be referred to Hackney Ark Audiology Department for further testing by an audiologist (a hearing specialist). This often happens at the second test, and it doesn't necessarily mean that your baby has hearing problems.
Since the first year of life is critical for normal speech and language development finding out early about your baby hearing means that if necessary, you can get advice and support to help your baby communicate with you and others.

Making/changing an appointment:

If the baby does not complete it’s newborn hearing screen before it is discharged from hospital, an outpatients appointment is offered at a convenient time, date and location for the family. A range of locations (accessible by public transport) is made available in order to facilitate the family’s attendance at this appointment.

If you have recently had a baby who has not received a hearing screen in the hospital, please ring 020 8510 5738 to make an appointment.

How to contact us:

The Newborn Hearing Screening team is based at Homerton University Hospital and can be reached at 020 8510 5738.