What does it mean when a baby does not pass a newborn hearing screening test?
When a baby does not pass the newborn hearing screening test, this does not necessarily mean the baby has a hearing loss. Across the nation, between 20 to100 babies per 1000 (2 to 10 percent) do not pass the screening test. Only one to three babies per 1000 (less than 1 percent) actually have hearing loss. This means that many of the babies referred for follow-up testing will be shown to have normal hearing. However, all babies with congenital hearing loss will be in the group of babies who do not pass the newborn hearing screening. A baby with normal hearing could fail the newborn hearing screening test due to vernix in the ear canal, fluid in the middle ear, or movement and/or crying during the test. If a baby does not pass the newborn hearing screening test, it is very important to make sure the baby gets follow-up testing to determine the baby’s hearing status.
