The purpose of screening is to find a health problem early and treat it. Hearing screening is a test to tell if someone has hearing loss. It is given to all babies because hearing plays a role in development. There are no guidelines for screening adults for hearing loss.
All babies should be screened for hearing loss from birth to by age 1 month. Babies who do not pass the screening should have a full hearing test by age 3 months.
Children who are at risk for hearing loss should have at least 1 hearing test by age 2 to 2 and a half years. Children who do not pass should have a full hearing test done right away.
References
Hearing loss. Healthy Children—American Academy of Pediatrics website. Available at: https://www.healthychildren.org/English/health-issues/conditions/ear-nose-throat/Pages/Hearing-Loss.aspx. Accessed May 11, 2022.
Hearing screening. American Speech-Language-Hearing Association website. Available at: https://www.asha.org/public/hearing/Hearing-Screening. Accessed May 11, 2022.
Screening and diagnosis of hearing loss. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website. Available at: https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/hearingloss/screening.html. Accessed May 11, 2022.
Sudden sensorineural hearing loss. EBSCO DynaMed website. Available at: https://www.dynamed.com/condition/sudden-sensorineural-hearing-loss. Accessed May 11, 2022.
Revision Information
- Reviewer: EBSCO Medical Review Board Daniel A. Ostrovsky, MD
- Update Date: 05/11/2022