NHS Newborn Hearing Screening Programme

More information

The early identification of hearing loss is known to be important for a child’s development.

One to two babies in every 1,000 are born with a hearing loss in one or both ears. Most of these babies are born into families with no history of hearing loss.

The NHS Newborn Hearing Screening Programme’s major aim is to identify all children born with moderate to profound permanent bilateral deafness within 4-5 weeks of birth and to ensure the provision of safe, high quality age-appropriate assessments and world class support for deaf children and their families.

All parents of newborns should:

• be offered a hearing screen for their child within 2 weeks of birth
• should receive information about the screen

Further resources

Access the Newborn Hearing Screening Programme website at hearing.screening.nhs.uk or use these direct links:

• Public information
• Professional information
• Press office
• Contact details

Map of Medicine Care Pathways (on NHS Choices)

• Newborn hearing screening
• Early audiological assessment
• Cochlear implant – paediatric

UK NSC policy statements

• Newborn hearing screening