Hallid kõrvaklapid heledal kollakasroosal taustal

Newborn hearing screening

Newborn hearing screening at the maternity ward

All newborns are offered a hearing screening test at the maternity ward. This is an important examination that allows early detection of possible hearing problems. Parents receive initial information about the study during Family School lectures.

Beebi kuulmisuuring võimaldab varakult tuvastada kuulmishäireid ja toetada lapse edasist arengut.

The initial hearing screening is carried out at the maternity hospital. If it has not been completed or needs to be repeated, the family is given an outpatient appointment before discharge.

What will my baby feel during the hearing test?

Your baby does not need to respond to the sounds and can even sleep throughout the test. The test is painless and causes no discomfort.

A small probe with a soft, flexible rubber tip is gently placed at the entrance to your baby’s ear canal. It plays soft sounds and records the response from the inner ear.

Results and next steps

  • The device measures sound responses and displays the results immediately, so parents are informed straight away.
  • Results are available to your GP https://www.terviseportaal.ee/.‍
  • Babies who have successfully completed the test do not need a re-examination.
  • If the baby does not pass the initial test, a repeat test is arranged at 2-4 weeks.
  • Over 99% of babies pass the repeat test and do not require further investigation.
  • If the baby does not pass the repeat test, they will be referred to the ITK Hearing Centre for additional examinations.