Hearing screen
A hearing screen is a quick, painless test done in the first day or two after birth to check whether your newborn can hear properly. Tiny earphones or sensors are placed near your baby's ears while they sleep, measuring how the inner ear or brain responds to sound. Catching hearing loss early is important because speech and language development begins from birth. Babies who are identified and supported before six months old have much better long-term communication outcomes than those identified later. The test is non-invasive and takes only a few minutes.
What This Means for You
Understanding Hearing screen is an important part of your first days/weeks journey. In your baby's first year, you will hear this term from your paediatrician and in parenting communities. Knowing what it means helps you respond quickly and confidently.
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In Singapore, the newborn hearing screen is offered at KKH, NUH, and most restructured hospitals before discharge. If your baby does not pass the first screen, do not panic as fluid in the ear canal is a common reason, but do attend the follow-up appointment promptly.
Related Terms
Source: https://medlineplus.gov/infantandnewborncare.html
Always consult your healthcare provider for personalised advice.
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