Hearing screening methods for children

Children's hearing is of particular concern to every parent, because if there is a problem with a child's hearing, it will not only affect the child's future language function, but also affect the child's learning and future communication. Therefore, many parents want to fully understand the children's hearing screening methods. The following content provides a detailed introduction, and you can come to have a comprehensive understanding.

1. Normal delivery: Use screening otoacoustic emissions (OAE) or automated auditory brainstem response (AABR) as the first-line screening tool. All newborns should undergo an initial hearing screening before discharge; those who fail the initial screening should be rescreened within 42 days after birth. When rescreening, both ears should be rescreened. Even if only one ear fails the initial screening, both ears should be rescreened during the rescreening. The re-screening instrument is the same as the primary screening.

2. Newborns and infants admitted to the NICU: If their condition is stable, AABR screening should be performed before discharge to avoid missing retrocochlear hearing loss (such as auditory neuropathy). Infants who fail the AABR test should be referred directly to a hearing center for rescreening and, if appropriate, a comprehensive audiological evaluation including a diagnostic ABR.

3. Infants and young children who are hospitalized again within 1 month of age (regardless of whether they are in the NICU or a general ward): When there is a possibility of delayed hearing loss (such as hyperbilirubinemia with indications for exchange transfusion or sepsis with positive blood culture, etc.), hearing should be rescreened before discharge.

4. In addition to trying to detect existing hearing loss during hearing screening, it is also necessary to analyze the medical history and family history to understand whether the subject has high-risk factors for delayed hearing loss. Those suspected should have their hearing tracked and followed up regularly.

The above is a comprehensive introduction to the methods of children's hearing screening. Therefore, after a comprehensive understanding, many parents must pay attention to it. In order to ensure that their children's hearing is normal, after understanding the above methods of children's hearing screening, they must pass the children's hearing screening as soon as possible according to the above introduction to ensure that their children's hearing is normal.