Department of Audiology

Your Baby’s Hearing Can Be Tested at Any Age!

Why should I have my baby’s hearing screened?
In Nova Scotia, approx. one out of every 500 babies has hearing loss. Many of these babies are otherwise healthy and have no family history of hearing problems.

Your baby can’t tell you if he or she can’t hear … your voice, a soft song or a nursery rhyme. We need to identify hearing problems as early as possible and take action to make sure your baby has the best chance to develop (language) normally.

When could my baby’s hearing screening be done?
A hearing screening can be arranged through the NS Hearing and Speech Centres. To insure that a problem is identified early it is best to arrange testing within the first 6 weeks of age. Appointments can be scheduled during your baby’s naptime.

How is a hearing screening done?
The screening test we use is called Otoacoustic Emissions. A small probe is placed in your baby’s ear and they hear a very soft clicking sound. A microphone in the probe picks up an echo coming from their inner ear. When the computer can detect this echo we know that your baby’s ears are healthy and hearing should be within the normal limits.

Most babies sleep through this screening. It causes no discomfort and can take only minutes to test each ear.

What if my baby does not pass this test?
There are many reasons your baby might not pass their first test: fluid in their ears, too wide-awake, or a noisy background. If this happens, a second test is necessary.

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