subject: Homebirth Families Should Consider A Newborn Hearing Test [print this page] If you and your family have decided that homebirths are the best way to deliver your children, then you have several considerations on your hands. One consideration is whether or not to have a newborn hearing test. This has been an important initiative that has taken place in hospitals, but it has not caught on as well with those who do homebirths.
If you have only given birth at home, then you may have never even heard of children receiving a hearing test in the hospital before they leave. It is a fairly new procedure, but it has really taken off, and with good cause. Most children born in hospitals have a quick screening done shortly after delivery. This is not always accurate, so it sometimes needs to be repeated. Even though it may need repeating, it does not mean that a child will be deaf or have some impairment.
If a child does not pass the first time, you will want to take your child to a specialist in a few weeks for another, more detailed test. These results may still not be accurate depending on whether there is residual fluid in the ears or wax build-up.
If you choose to have a homebirth, you can still take advantage of newborn hearing screening. If you are interested in it, your pediatrician should be able to give you a referral so that your insurance can cover the testing. There may be special clinics available that would administer a newborn hearing test on your child. Make sure to talk to your midwife during your pregnancy, and hopefully by the time your baby is born you will be on the right track for having it done.
You might wonder why it is important if it is often inaccurate. If a child has completely healthy capabilities, then the results will establish that, which rules any problems out. It is best if an impairment of this kind is discovered within the first year so that the problem will not end up impacting the child's language development more than necessary. Knowing this early will help families get the help they need to raise a child with an impairment.
As you plan for your next homebirth, plan to have one of your first visits out to be a hearing test. You might even find someone to come into your home to do it, which would be even better. Start your research today to find out what steps you should take to have this accomplished.
