INFANT DIAGNOSTIC HEARING TESTING
Early detection and assessment of hearing loss are the keys to successful habilitation of infants. With universal newborn hearing screening in North Dakota it is expected that 10-25 infants (1-2%) will be referred for diagnostic hearing testing. The initial diagnostic hearing evaluation should be scheduled within 2-4 weeks of parent notification of newborn screening failure.
The pediatric audiologist to whom the child is referred must decide on the appropriateness of the components of a test battery for each child based on: screening results, the medical history of the child, risk factors if present, and the type, number, and timing carried out prior to the referral.
It is strongly recommended that any audiologist accepting infants for initial diagnostic audiological evaluations should have the ability to complete the following procedures (*):
Auditory Brainstem Response [ABR (a.k.a BAERS, BAER)]-threshold measurement with standard click. Use of tone burst or notched noise may be helpful to obtain low frequency information. (Note: Since sedation is often required for testing infants, ABR should be conducted in a medical facility where sedation can be administered and monitored.)
Immittance Testing (tympanometry and acoustic reflex testing)-use of a high frequency probe tone greater than 800 Hz is preferred.
Otoacoustic Emissions (OAE)-transient evoked or distortion product.
Behavioral Audiometry-may be useful in addition to the above.
(*) An otological evaluation must be included as part of the diagnostic process, although it may occur at a different facility and time.
Results of the initial diagnostic audiological evaluation for each ear must be reported to the primary care physician and hospital of birth, by the Audiologist.
All children who are diagnosed as having a hearing impairment will be immediately referred to Children with SHCN System.. For referral call 1-800-. The Birth to Three System provides a range of services including ongoing audiological testing, acquisition of assistive technology, family training and communication intervention.
THE UNIVERSAL NEWBORN HEARING SCREENING PROGRAM INITIAL DIAGNOSTIC CENTERS
FARGO
MINOT
BISMARCK