Patient's question:
What age is best for a baby to have a hearing screening?Doctor's answer:
Neonatal hearing screening (NHS) refers to the audiological examination conducted for newborns during the designated period after birth while hospitalized (typically within 2-5 days). Based on the test results, the infants are categorized into two groups: those who pass the screening and those who do not. Newborns who fail the screening are considered to be in the suspected hearing impairment group and must undergo a follow-up screening within 42 days of birth. If they still fail the follow-up screening, they should be referred to a specialized hearing diagnostic institution (such as the Guangzhou Children's Hearing Diagnostic Center, which is located in our hospital's Department of Otolaryngology) to complete diagnostic audiological testing and evaluation within 3 months. This will ultimately determine whether they truly have hearing impairment, as well as the severity and nature of the impairment. A definitive diagnosis should be made within 6 months, and recommendations for intervention should be provided and implemented.