Newborn Hearing Test

Otoacoustic emissions are a modern, reliable, painless, non-invasive and safe diagnostic method for the detection of neonatal hearing loss.

This method allows us to check the hearing (cochlea test) already from the first days of birth, second 24 hours and after, as from this moment positive (OAE) start to be emitted.

The reported incidence of childhood hearing loss is 1 child per 750 cases. Regarding the etiology of childhood sensorineural hearing loss in 85% of cases the causes are congenital, while in 10-15% it is postnatal or progressive, i.e., while no hearing loss was detected after birth, after a few months progressive hearing loss (auditory neuropathy) was developed.

The rate of congenital hearing loss is higher than congenital hypothyroidism or metabolic diseases for which in Greece there is a compulsory examination.

The likelihood of hearing loss if diagnosed before the first six months of life and treated early leads to better communication and academic development compared to children diagnosed after the age of sixth months

The American Speech-Language Hearing Association (ASHA) has since 1994 announced that hearing loss in children should be recognized by 3 months of age and hearing aids should be applied by 6 months of age with speech and language therapy. That is why the age of cochlear implantation tends to reach 6 months in order for the baby to receive the necessary auditory information more quickly.

All of the above shows how important it is to detect hearing loss in newborns. In recent years we have had methods for monitoring the hearing of newborns (otoacoustic emissions, Acoustic Brain Stem Response Meters, etc.). Most popular are otoacoustic emissions (transient TEAE, DPOAE distortion products) with which we control the normal function of the cochlea and even of the outer hair cells.

By administering an appropriate sound stimulus through the external auditory canal with the help of a microdevice, we stimulate the cochlea, which reacts with low-intensity sounds that can be detected by the microphone of the microdevice we initially placed. The result of the test is classified as a normal recording of (OAE) and as an abnormal recording. In the latter case there is an indication for further testing, which will be discussed with the clinic’s ENT specialists.

If the child has particular risk factors, a full paediatric hearing screening with Auditory Brainstem Response (ABR) is required from the outset.

In many developed countries (USA, Denmark, Sweden…) the detection of hearing loss in newborns is mandatory. Unfortunately, in our country it is not yet applied on a wide scale.

Screening Test with state-of-the-art equipment

The General Clinic Euromedica Mitera Crete with the aim of providing high quality services in the field of Mother – Child is pleased to announce that it has state-of-the-art equipment and can perform screening tests for neonatal hearing loss (TEOAE, DPOAE, ABR) in all newborns.

An information table on the child’s linguistic development in the following months of development is also provided.

INFANT AGE	LISTEN – SPEECH
0-3 months	It scares at loud noises. It quiets down to familiar voices. Produces vowel sounds e.g. “ahhh, oooo” produces squeaks emits shrieks laughs.
3-6 months	Produces a variety of sounds e.g. “va-va, va-ga”. He/she likes toys that have sound. He changes the tone of the voice e.g. High toned. He turns his/her eyes and head towards the source of the sound.
6-9 months	He reacts to his/her name. It imitates speech with sounds that are not yet speech. Plays by repeating sounds e.g., “la-la-la-la”. Understands “no” and “hello”. He says “da-da” and “ma-ma”. He likes to listen to music and singing.
9-12 months	It reacts differently to happy and angry speech. Turns head quickly to loud and soft sounds. Uses 2-3 simple words correctly. Gives toys when asked. Stops when told “no” or “don’t”.
12-18 months	Recognises people and body parts. Can say what he/she wants. His speech is beginning to sound like a sentence. He/she gestures according to what he/she is saying. He/she moves-jumps to the rhythm of music. He/she repeats several of the words you say to him/her.