Patient's question:
The initial hearing screening was done when the baby was born. It has been two months now. Sometimes I feel the baby can hear adults talking, and sometimes I feel he can't. I want to ask, what age is it when newborns undergo hearing screening?Doctor's answer:
Newborns already have the ability to perceive external sound waves. However, because there is no air in the tympanic cavity of the ear, hearing will be reduced. Within 3 to 7 days after birth, the baby's hearing will become quite acute. If someone shouts loudly or makes other noises near his ears at this time, it may trigger a series of stress responses, such as the baby opening or closing his eyes, shock, or changes in breathing rate (acceleration or deceleration). The person carrying the baby may also experience similar reactions. When exposed to sudden sounds, the baby's upper limbs will open and straighten, with fingers extended, and then the upper limbs will bend to form the Moro reflex. These phenomena can serve as reference indicators for newborn hearing tests.