Why should my baby's hearing be screened?

Babies learn to talk and communicate through hearing sounds and words from you and those around him/her. If your baby has a hearing loss, his/her may interfere with his/her ability to speak and communicate. Hearing screening allows you to know if your baby has a hearing loss so you can get the appropriate intervention services as soon as possible.

Is there a fee for newborn hearing screening?

NO. "THE UNIVERSAL NEWBORN HEARING SCREENING AND INTERVENTION ACT OF 2004" (P.L. 27-150) mandates newborn hearing screening as a standard of care for ALL newborns on Guam. The screening is part of the routine care given to babies at birth, just like taking their weight and temperature.

What if my baby fails the hearing screening?

If your baby fails the hearing screening, it does not mean he or she is deaf or has a hearing loss. There are different reasons why your baby may have failed. Some babies still have fluid or debris in their ears after birth or some may be fussy during the screening which may cause him/her to fail the screening. Your baby will be referred for a follow-up screening to make sure his/her hearing is okay. It is IMPORTANT to return for your baby's follow-up hearing screening.

Some babies need to be tested again even if they pass the first screening. Some babies may have certain risk factors that may cause a hearing loss as they grow older. These babies need to have a hearing evaluation at 6 months of age, so discuss this with your baby's doctor for a referral to an audiologist.

What are the risk factors that might cause my baby to have a hearing loss?

• Family history of hearing loss.
• Born before or during the 30th week of pregnancy.
• Birth weight was less than 3 lbs.
• Experienced a lack of oxygen after birth.
• Needed a machine to help him/her breathe.
• Spent 48 hours or more in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU).
• Head, face, or ears shaped or formed in a different way than usual.
• Head injury.
• Infection that was present at birth or shortly after birth.
• Jaundice (hyperbilirubinemia) needing special procedure (exchange transfusion).
• Was given medicine that may damage hearing.
• Illness that might result in hearing problems.
• Frequent ear infections.

Do I have to pay for the follow-up screening?

All follow-up screening is FREE.

Where can I go to get my baby's hearing re-screened?

If your baby needs his/her hearing re-screened, the birthing site (i.e. GMHA or Sagua Mañågu) will give you an appointment to have his/her hearing re-screened. On Guam, follow-up hearing screening is conducted by the Guam EHDI Project, the Department of Public Health and Social Services Community Health Centers, and the Sagua Mañågu Birthing center.