Acute Assessment Unit
About us
Newborn Hearing Screening Service provides hearing screening at birth for the South West London (SWL) sector and surrounding areas.
Permanent hearing loss can significantly affect a baby's development. Finding out early can give these babies a better chance of developing good speech and language and communication skills.
It will also help babies make the most of relationships with their family or carers from an early age.
The newborn hearing screen helps to identify babies who have moderate, severe and profound deafness as early as possible. This means parents can get the support and advice they need right from the start.
The programme aims to screen babies within four to five weeks of birth.
One to two babies in every 1,000 are born with permanent hearing loss in one or both ears. This increases in babies who have spent more than 48 hours in intensive care. Most of these babies are born into families with no history of permanent hearing loss.
Where we work
Our SWL newborn hearing screening team conducts hearing screening at the following hospital sites:
- Croydon Hospital
- Epsom Hospital
- Kingston Hospital
- St George’s Hospital
- St Helier Hospital
- The Portland Hospital
About hearing screening
Ideally we aim to complete the screen in the first four weeks, but it can be done at up to three months of age.
You will be offered the hearing screen for your baby before discharge from the hospital or invited to attend an outpatient clinic appointment. Please refer to the ‘useful documents’ section which outlines where the community clinics are held.
The first screen is called AOAE (automated oto-acoustic emission). For this screen a small soft tipped earpiece is placed in your baby’s ear and a soft clicking sound is presented. When the ear receives sounds, the inner part (cochlea) responds and this can be picked up by the screening equipment.
It is not always possible to get clear responses from the first screen. This does not necessarily mean your baby has a hearing loss.
It can mean:
- Your baby was unsettled when the screen was performed
- There was background noise
- Your baby has fluid or a temporary blockage in their ear – this is very common and passes with time.
- Your baby has a hearing loss
In these cases your baby will be offered another screen. This may be at the same as the first screen or another type called the AABR (automated auditory brainstem response). This involves placing 3 small sensors on your baby’s head, neck and shoulder.
Soft headphones are placed over your baby’s ears and soft clicking sounds are played. This screen takes between 5 and 15 minutes.
If your baby has a clear response in both ears then they are unlikely to have a permanent hearing loss. However, newborn hearing screening does not pick up all types of hearing loss and children can develop hearing loss later on.
It is important to check your child’s hearing as they grow up. The checklist in your baby's personal child health record (red book) tells you how to do this.
You can also download two checklists:
Concerned about your child's hearing?
If you have any concerns about your child's hearing, tell your health visitor or GP.
If the screening test results do not show a clear response from 1 or both of your baby’s ears an appointment will be made with Audiology to see a hearing specialist.
About 2 to 3 babies in every 100 do not show a clear response on the screening tests. Being sent for further tests does not necessarily mean your baby has a hearing loss.
You will be referred to your local audiology department within 4 weeks of completing the hearing screen. It is very important that you attend the appointment in case your baby has a hearing loss.
Concerned that you may have missed the hearing screen?
If you are concerned that your baby has missed the hearing screen, please contact our head office on 020 8614 5337. Full details can be found on the ‘contact us’ page.
South West London population system of care for the deaf children and young adults
This system is the collaborative care network provided by care partners for deaf children and young adults within the southwest London population
It networks professionals and service users involved in the screening, diagnosis, treatment and habitation of deaf children and young adults. It aims to improve the quality of care and outcomes for the deaf within southwest London.
Useful documents
For more information, please see the gov.uk Newborn Hearing Screening Programme web pages.
Referrals
The hearing screen is usually carried out in the maternity unit of the hospital in which you gave birth (before you are discharged home).
Any babies who miss the screen for whatever reason will be picked up in community clinics.
If your baby’s hearing has not been screened, speak with your midwife, health visitor, local audiology department or family doctor.
There are certain occasions when your baby will not be offered the newborn hearing screen – this will be discussed with you on an individual basis and the appropriate follow up action will be put into place.
Richmond Paediatric Audiology Service
Telephone: 020 8714 4108
Email: hrch.
Kingston Hospital Audiology Department
Telephone: 020 8934 6406
Epsom and St Helier Audiology Service
Email: audiology-sth
Croydon Audiology Service
Telephone: 020 8401 3063
Email: ch-tr.
St George’s Audiology Service
Telephone: 020 8725 6553