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The ear test is a mandatory test by law that must be done in the maternity ward, in babies to assess hearing and detect early some degree of deafness in the baby.
This test is free, easy and does not hurt the baby and is usually performed during sleep between the 2nd and 3rd day of the baby's life. In some cases, it may be recommended that the test be repeated after 30 days, especially when there is a greater risk of hearing disorders, as in the case of premature newborns, with low weight or whose mother had an infection during pregnancy that was not properly treated.
What is it for
The ear test aims to identify changes in the baby's hearing capacity, and therefore it is an important test for the early diagnosis of deafness, for example. In addition, this test allows the identification of minor auditory changes that could interfere with the speech development process.
Thus, through the ear test, the speech therapist and pediatrician can assess the baby's hearing capacity and, if necessary, indicate the beginning of specific treatment.
How is the ear test done
The ear test is a simple test and does not cause pain or discomfort for the baby. In this test, the doctor places a device in the baby's ear that emits a sound stimulus and measures its return through a small probe that is also inserted in the baby's ear.
Thus, in about 5 to 10 minutes, the doctor can check if there are any changes that should be investigated and treated. If an alteration was found during the ear test, the baby should be referred for a more complete hearing exam, so that the diagnosis can be completed and appropriate treatment started.
When to do
The ear test is a mandatory test and is indicated in the first days of life while still in the maternity ward, and is usually performed between the 2nd and 3rd day of life. Despite being suitable for all newborns, some babies have a greater chance of developing hearing problems, and therefore the ear test is very important. Thus, the risk of the baby having the altered ear test is greater when:
- Premature birth;
- Low weight at birth;
- Case of deafness in the family;
- Malformation of the bones of the face or involving the ear;
- The woman had an infection during pregnancy, such as toxoplasmosis, rubella, cytomegalovirus, herpes, syphilis or HIV;
- They used antibiotics after birth.
In such cases it is important that, regardless of the result, the test is repeated after 30 days.
What to do if the ear test changes
The test can be altered in only one ear, when the baby has fluid in the ear, which may be the amniotic fluid. In this case, the test should be repeated after 1 month.
When the doctor identifies any changes in both ears, he can immediately indicate that the parents take the baby to the otorhinolaryngologist or speech therapist to confirm the diagnosis and start treatment. Furthermore, it may be necessary to observe the baby's development, trying to see if he hears well. At 7 and 12 months of age, the pediatrician can perform the ear test again to assess the baby's hearing.
The following table indicates how the child's hearing develops:
Baby age | What he should do |
Newborn | Startled by loud sounds |
0 to 3 months | Calms down with moderately loud sounds and music |
3 to 4 months | Pay attention to sounds and try to imitate sounds |
6 to 8 months | Try to find out where the sound comes from; say things like 'dada' |
12 months | starts speaking the first words, like mom and understands clear orders, like 'bye bye' |
18 months | speak at least 6 words |
2 years | speaks phrases using 2 words like 'quégua' |
3 years | speaks phrases with more than 3 words and wants to give orders |
The best way to know if your baby is not listening well is to take him to the doctor for tests. At the doctor's office, the pediatrician may perform some tests that show that the child has a hearing impairment and if this is confirmed, he may indicate the use of a hearing aid that can be made to measure.
See other tests that the baby should do right after birth.