Who are we? 

The screening team offer newborn hearing screening at Homerton hospital or at a number of clinics at health centres in Hackney.

What do we do? 

Screening is a process of identifying individuals who appear healthy but may be at increased risk of a disease or condition.

The Newborn Hearing Screening tests to identify possible hearing loss in newborn babies. It is carried out as soon as possible after birth.

What happens at the hearing screening test? 

The test is painless, causes no discomfort and will usually be done while the baby is asleep or settled.  It lasts a few minutes and results will be given as soon as the hearing screening test is done. 

If the test shows a clear response from both the baby's ears, it is unlikely that he or she will have hearing loss. 

If the test does not show a clear response from both ears, the baby will need to have a second test.

What happens if the baby has to have a second test? 

The second screening test may also be done in hospital, or at a local health centre. The test can take between 5 and 30 minutes and parents or carers can stay with the baby while it's carried out.

What happens after the second test? 

If the test does not show a clear response from both ears, the baby 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 a baby has hearing problems.

Since the first year of life is critical for normal speech and language development, finding out early about a baby’s hearing means that if necessary, families can get advice and support to help the baby communicate.