Some types of hearing problems can delay your child's speech and language development. Early screening for hearing problems can help prevent a variety of learning, social, and emotional problems that can be related to speech and language development.

The United States Preventive Services Task Force recommends that all newborns be screened for hearing loss.¹ Call your doctor if at any time you suspect your child has a hearing problem, such as if your baby does not seem to respond to loud noises or your young child is not making sounds or talking at the expected ages. Even if the newborn test did not show hearing loss, hearing problems could arise.

After an initial exam, your family doctor or pediatrician may suggest a formal hearing evaluation by an audiologist.

An audiologist may check a baby's hearing using several different methods. One method, called otoacoustic emissions (OAE) testing, is conducted by placing the small, soft tip of an instrument in a baby's ear canal to measure the inner ear's response to sound. In auditory brain stem response (ABR) testing, sounds are emitted from the soft tip of an instrument placed in the baby's ear canal. Three small electrodes placed on the surface of the baby's head record the brain's response to the sound. Both tests are best performed when the infant is quiet.

After 6 months of age, your child may be tested with conditioned play audiometry (CPA). In this kind of testing, children respond to a number of different high- and low-pitch (frequency) sounds, as well as to speech.