Outpatient Hearing Screen (or Rescreen)
North Dakota’s Early Hearing Detection and Intervention Program (ND EHDI) continues to work past birth screening efforts to assure infants requiring an outpatient screen receive the appropriate follow-up by one month of age.
An outpatient screen is recommended for infants who did not pass (referred) or did not have a birth screening at the hospital prior to discharge. The outpatient screen is generally done in coordination with the two-week well baby check or may be scheduled as a separate appointment.
Outpatient screens are generally scheduled by hospital staff before hospital discharge. Outpatient screens may be offered at the birth hospital, a clinic with available hearing screening and/or audiology services or through the Right Track or Tribal Tracking programs. Programs such as Right Track and Tribal Tracking can provide free in-home hearing screenings and answer any other questions parents may have about their child’s development. Families may accept/decline any of their services.
How is a baby’s hearing screened?
- Automated auditory brainstem response (AABR)
Electrodes are placed on the baby's head to detect responses. Sounds (soft clicking noises) are played in the baby's ears. This test measures how the brain responds to sounds and can identify babies who need to be tested for possible hearing loss.
- Otoacoustic emissions (OAE)
A miniature earphone and microphone are placed in the ear, sounds are played and a response is measured. If a baby hears normally, an echo is reflected back into the ear canal and measured by the microphone. If a baby has a hearing loss, the echo is not detected by the OAE machine.
Results of the Outpatient Hearing Screen (or Rescreen)
- A PASS RESULT means that your baby hears within the normal speech range. Screening is complete. It is important to know that even babies who pass can go on to develop hearing loss. Parents are advised to continue to watch for normal hearing and language developmental milestones. If you have any concerns about your child’s speech, language or hearing tell your doctor right away. Hearing tests can be done at any age. See the Typical Auditory Development chart for a starting point.
- A REFER (Did Not Pass) RESULT at the outpatient screening means your baby needs further evaluation by a pediatric audiologist to assess your infant’s hearing health. This appointment should be scheduled as soon as possible. See the pediatric audiologist list to find a provider in your area.
Once an infant has completed the outpatient screen, results are documented in ND EHDI’s data system. Parents or guardians of an infant referring (not passing) the outpatient screen will receive a letter from ND EHDI recommending follow-up by an audiologist to further assess their infant’s hearing health. A referral to the early intervention service called the Parent Infant Program (PIP) is also made. The Parent Infant program is a home-based program offering family centered and individualized support to address each family’s/child’s needs specific to hearing health. Families may accept/decline any PIP services. Parent Infant Program web site.
A hearing screen checklist for Outpatient Providers
