Outpatient Hearing Screen (or Rescreen)
If your baby did not pass, or was referred, on the newborn hearing screening, in one or both ears while in the hospital, staff should have told you the importance of scheduling a ‘rescreen’. Sometimes this will be with hearing screeners, and sometimes it will be with a pediatric audiologist. Your newborn hearing screening team will let you know which one you should see.
Hospitals and birthing centers sometimes make the rescreen appointment for you, before you go home, and others will ask you to make it yourself. Be sure you have the information you need before you leave, so you can call and set up the appointment, and/or you know when to bring your baby back for this important rescreen.
If you are not sure where to go, or who to call, for your rescreen, contact your hospital or birthing center.
We are here to support you at any time you have questions at gbys@co-hv.org.
Screening Results
The initial screen is considered “completed” at the hospital, or birthing center, prior to discharge, or by a midwife after a homebirth. Sometimes hearing screeners may screen your baby's ears more than once to get a good reading (but should not be done more than twice). That step is considered an initial or first screen.
If your child does not pass, or refers, the initial screen, you will return for the outpatient hearing screen or rescreen appointment. Babies are brought for an outpatient rescreening prior to seeing a pediatric audiologist, or an audiologist who specializes in babies and young children (unless you were told otherwise by your screening team). PLEASE DON’T ASSUME it’s just fluid in the ears…. It may or may not be, which is why you need to return for the rescreen. It is better to know for sure if your baby has access to all the soft sounds of speech.
A “Did not Pass” at the second, or rescreen appointment, means your baby needs further testing by an audiologist. The audiologist should have experience with testing babies and should have the necessary equipment. Please call them immediately for an evaluation. The younger your baby, the easier it is to perform the necessary tests. Your baby will need to be asleep. Older babies (6 months +) may require sedation so they sleep. Talk with your audiology team on best ways to proceed so you are prepared when you visit.
While you wait...
Visit Hands & Voices HQ's Virtual Waiting Room to help answer questions, and watch the Loss & Found Video. This video is captioned in English, Spanish, Arabic and Chinese.
The Loss & Found video outlines what we as parents/families can do after our newborn child does not pass a hearing screening at birth. The film includes diverse families sharing their personal stories of learning their child needed to have a diagnostic audiology assessment to determine whether their child was deaf or hard of hearing. Families also explain the importance of knowing the outcome and taking next steps right away to ensure their baby gets into early intervention and the best care.
