Newborn hearing screening is a quick, painless test performed in a baby's first days of life, usually before discharge from hospital, to detect hearing loss before any outward sign appears. It uses one of two methods that require no cooperation from the baby: measuring the sound emissions produced by the cochlea in response to a soft tone, or recording the brainstem's electrical response to sound through small surface sensors. The test is carried out while the baby is asleep or settled. Timing is the heart of the matter. The first two years are the window in which the brain builds its language pathways, and every month spent without adequate hearing delays speech and comprehension, and later reading and school learning. This is why waiting for a child to "talk on his own" or comparing him with an older sibling is unsafe. A baby with hearing loss still smiles, follows faces with his eyes and responds to touch and vibration, which reassures parents without real justification. A screening result is not a diagnosis. The outcome is either pass or refer for a repeat test, and needing a repeat is common for simple reasons such as residual fluid in the middle ear, wax in the canal, or movement and crying during the test. A baby who needs a repeat is retested within a few weeks, and if the result persists he is referred for full diagnostic assessment that establishes whether loss is present, its type, its degree, and which ear is affected. The limits of screening must be stated clearly: passing at birth does not guarantee normal hearing forever. Some hearing loss appears later or progresses gradually, and some is linked to family history, repeated ear infections, certain illnesses or medicines that affect hearing, or a long stay in neonatal intensive care. Speech and language milestones should therefore be reviewed at every well-child visit, and hearing should be reassessed whenever parents are concerned or language is delayed, whatever the first screening showed. What happens after a refer result is decided by clinical examination and audiological assessment, not by reading. The purpose is not to alarm families but to make sure a whole year does not pass before a hearing loss that could have been managed from the earliest months is finally discovered.
Procedure steps
- 1
Review of pregnancy and birth history
The audiologist asks about gestational age, birth weight, jaundice, intensive care admission, medicines and infections during pregnancy, and any family history of hearing loss. This does not change how the test is done, but it identifies babies who need later hearing follow-up even if they pass the first screen.
- 2
Checking the canal and middle ear
The ear canal is inspected to confirm it is free of wax or residual fluid, which can block the response and produce a refer result without any true hearing loss. Nothing is inserted into the canal at home: cotton buds and household tools are unsafe, and any needed cleaning is done in the clinic.
- 3
Settling the baby and running the test
The baby is tested asleep or settled after a feed, since movement and crying disturb the recording. A small probe is placed in the canal, or soft sensors on the forehead and neck, and gentle sounds are presented while the equipment records the response automatically. The test is painless and needs no sedation or fasting.
- 4
Reading the result and explaining it
The result is reported as pass or refer for each ear separately. The family is told that a refer is not a diagnosis and that its causes are usually temporary, and the repeat appointment is given in writing. Expected hearing milestones for the coming months are explained so parents become partners in monitoring.
- 5
Repeat screening or diagnostic referral
Screening is repeated within a few weeks, and if the result persists the baby is referred for full diagnostic assessment including auditory brainstem response and middle ear testing. The aim is a clear decision within the first months of life, because every delay in intervention leaves a mark on language.
Before the procedure
Newborn hearing screening needs no fasting, no sedation and no medical preparation. The best time is after a feed while the baby is asleep or calm, because movement and crying can disturb the recording and cause a refer result for no real reason. Bring the birth report and any documents about intensive care, jaundice or medicines the baby received, and tell the audiologist if anyone in the family has had hearing loss since childhood. Do not clean inside your baby's ear with cotton buds and do not put oil or drops in the canal before the test, as this can push wax inward or block the response. Dress the baby in comfortable clothing that is easy to open at the shoulders, and bring a spare outfit and nappies. If your baby currently has a cold or ear infection, tell the clinic, as it may be better to postpone the test by a few days.
After the procedure
There are no restrictions after the test; you can feed and hold your baby immediately as usual. Keep the result sheet in your child's file, and if a repeat is needed, attend on time rather than postponing it, because delay wastes the very months in which decisions are best made. Watch for hearing milestones in the coming months: startling at sudden sounds, turning towards your voice, cooing and then repeated syllables, responding to his name, and first understandable words in the second year. Do not wait for a child to "talk on his own" if these signs are missing, and have hearing reassessed promptly whenever you are concerned, even after a pass result. See a doctor if you notice: **no response at all to loud sounds or to your voice**, **clear delay in babbling and first words**, **discharge, blood or odour from the ear**, **fever with intense crying and pulling at the ear**, or repeated ear infections.
Expected duration
Screening itself usually takes about 5 to 15 minutes per ear while the baby sleeps, although the visit may last half an hour or more once settling and waiting are included. A repeat screen, when needed, is arranged within a few weeks, and full diagnostic assessment requires a longer session whose length depends on the tests involved.
Our directory of Newborn Hearing screening and Diagnostics doctors in Jordan is growing
There are no matching published profiles in this directory yet. ClinicsJo is expanding its coverage and working to welcome more Newborn Hearing screening and Diagnostics doctors in Jordan. Check this page regularly for newly added profiles, practice details and available contact options.
Browse all doctorsBrowse Audiology profilesFinding Newborn Hearing screening and Diagnostics services in Jordan
Which doctors are listed for Newborn Hearing screening and Diagnostics in Jordan?
There are currently no doctor profiles linked to Newborn Hearing screening and Diagnostics in this directory. You can browse the related specialty or the wider doctors directory. This does not mean that the service is unavailable in Jordan.
How can I find an appointment for Newborn Hearing screening and Diagnostics?
Start with an available doctor's profile and use the contact or booking options shown there. Confirm the service, practice location and appointment time with the clinic. If this list is empty, broaden your search using the directory links on this page.
What does Newborn Hearing screening and Diagnostics cost in Jordan?
Ask the practice for the current price and what it includes. A consultation fee shown on a profile is not necessarily the price of a procedure, tests or follow-up. Confirm any additional charges and insurance arrangements before your visit.