Frequently Asked Questions

Newborn hearing screening is a painless test done on your newborn to check his or her hearing. Every baby should have a hearing screening completed within the first month (30 days) of the baby’s life.

Babies learn to communicate as soon as they are born. Babies may respond to noise by startling or turning their heads toward the sound, but this doesn't mean they can hear all the sounds around them. Detecting hearing loss early prevents delays in speech, language and social skill development.

A baby's hearing is screened using Automated Auditory Brainstem Response (AABR), Product Otoacoustic Emissions (OAE), or both. Screening only takes a few minutes. You can stay with your baby while the screening is done. Read more about AABR and OAE testing.

Your newborn will get a hearing screening at the birth facility. If the birth center does not do a hearing screening, they will refer you to another facility to set up your baby’s appointment. 

You should be given a copy of the results before you and your baby leave the birth facility. Check discharge paperwork for hearing screening results. Contact the birth facility to find out if your baby was screened. If you have problems with the above, contact the TEHDI Program.

Your baby can be screened by a local audiologist, a person trained to test hearing. Your pediatrician will provide you with a referral. You can find an audiologist using our pediatric service provider’s map.

Most private health insurance covers hearing screening and any resulting testing until the infant is 24 months (about 2 years) of age. Contact your health insurance provider or Medicaid/ TexCare Children’s Medicaid (CHIP) for eligibility requirements and enrollment instructions.

A “Did Not Pass” or “Fail” means the baby needs another screening. A follow-up appointment must be completed as soon as possible, preferably within the first month (30 days) of the baby’s life. If the baby does not pass again, then further testing will need to be done to find out the cause.

Read our Additional Information about Newborn Hearing Screening brochure to learn more about the next steps if your baby does not pass the hearing screenings. Contact the Texas Early Hearing Detection and Intervention (TEHDI) Program, for more information.

• Automated Auditory Brainstem Response (AABR): It is a test that checks the brain’s response to sound.  

During this test, your newborn wears tiny earphones that play sounds and, along with three electrodes placed on her scalp, they will measure brain activity as she listens.  The child being tested can be sound asleep during the test. It takes around 10-15 minutes to perform, and results are automatically generated.

• Otoacoustic Emissions (OAE): This test uses a tiny probe that is inserted just at the entrance to your baby’s ear canal and emits a number of sounds. The test checks for echoes in your baby’s ears in response to the clicks or tones that are played. Baby can be sound asleep and the testing takes 5-10 minutes. The results are automatically generated. 

• Audiological Evaluation: An audiological evaluation, sometimes called a hearing assessment, is a group of tests that check different parts of the hearing system to identify how well the baby can hear. The results of the evaluation are put on a graph called an audiogram which shows the areas of hearing loss (low, middle or high-pitched sounds) and degree of hearing loss (mild, moderate, severe, or profound). 

• Difference between a Hearing Screening and a Diagnostic Hearing Evaluation 

The purpose of the hearing screening is to quickly test one part of the hearing system to find out whether it is working properly. The OAE screening measures the function of the outer hair cells but does not measure a response from the auditory (hearing) nerve. The AABR screening tells us how the nerve and brainstem pathways for hearing are working. (See the section above on “Types of Hearing Tests” for screening details.) Diagnostic hearing testing uses the same methods of testing but checks more frequencies and levels. Screening takes less than 10 minutes, diagnostic testing is more detailed and takes two to three hours because all parts of the hearing system are checked. Testing is done while the baby is asleep. It may take more than one appointment to get all the testing done. Your audiologist- a person trained to check hearing, can explain all the tests, why they are being done, and what was found. 

By 1 Month  

• Your baby must have a newborn screening at birth.  
• If the baby did not pass, a second screen is done after leaving the birth facility.  

By 3 Months  

• If my baby does not pass the initial screenings, he will need further tests with a pediatric audiologist- a hearing expert who specializes in the assessment and management of children with hearing loss.  

 You may then be referred to:  

• Early Childhood Intervention (ECI)  
• Statewide Outreach Center at the Texas School for the Deaf (SOC at TSD)  

By 6 Months  

My baby must be enrolled intervention services, including:  

• Early intervention services   
• Teacher for the deaf or hard of hearing  
• Pediatric audiologist/hearing technology evaluation 

If you need help finding a pediatric audiologist, ask your baby’s doctor or the hospital staff who conducted your baby’s screening. They may even be able to help you schedule an appointment. 

A two-page chart showing the 1-3-6-month guide to the hearing screening and intervention process is available. View the 1-3-6 Guide. 

According to Texas Insurance Code (https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/?link=IN), “A health benefit plan that provides coverage shall provide to each covered child coverage for a screening test for hearing loss from birth through the date the child is 30 days of age;  and necessary diagnostic follow-up care related to the screening test from birth through the date the child is 24 months of age.” 

Medicaid 

• For Medicaid eligibility requirements and enrollment instructions, call the Texas Health and Human Services Commission Help Line at 1-800-252-8263. 

Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) 

• For CHIP eligibility and enrollment information, call 2-1-1. When you call, pick a language, and then press 2.  

Private Health Insurance Plan 

• Contact your health plan provider to know more about what hearing screening services they cover. 

• If you have any questions, you also may call the Texas Department of Insurance on 1-800-252-3439.