Incidence of deafness in children
According to data from the WHO (World Health Organization), it is estimated that 1 – 3 newborns out of every thousand will have moderate to profound hearing loss, even increasing to 5 out of every thousand births if different types of deafness are taken into account.

Importance of Neonatal Hearing Screening
Neonatal Hearing Screening allows the early detection of children with hearing impairment (before 3 months of age), using an objective evaluation technique (not dependent on the baby’s collaboration).
Only this will guarantee early intervention, with the aim of maximizing linguistic and communicative competences in children with hearing problems.

What types of tests are there to perform hearing screening?
Basically, two types of techniques are used:
a) Automated Auditory Evoked Potentials: Recording of the electrical activity of the auditory nerve in the brainstem, in response to a specific acoustic stimulus.
b) Otoacoustic emissions: Sounds generated in the cochlea (inner part of the ear) in response to a sound stimulus, emitted and recorded by a specific piece of equipment.

Interpreting the results
Once the test is done, the result may be:
– Pass: An indication that the test has been successfully passed.
– Fails: Indication that the test for one or both ears has not been passed.
It should be noted that the Hearing Screening test is NOT a diagnostic test. Therefore, “Do not pass” cases, or “Pass” cases that present a risk antecedent, should be referred to the specialist for a subsequent diagnosis and, where appropriate, appropriate treatment.