Newborn Failed Hearing Tests in Hospital

My baby failed her first test too, and she's almost 7 months and hears just fine.
I wouldn't worry about it unless she's completely unresponsive to sounds. When my cousins 4 month old is asleep you can clap loudly next to his ear and he doesn't even flinch!
Good luck and it's to early to worry,
S. G

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My youngest daughter failed the first hearing tests as well. However they retested her right before we left the hospital, and she passed. The hospital staff reasured me that it was more than likely the fluid in her ears.

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Hi there,
I am a NICU nurse who had to run these tests on other folks kids before I had my kids. The tests (really not tests because the results are really unreliable for false positives - more like "screens") are NOTORIOUSLY hard to do - like everyone else said the conditions have to be PERFECT to NOT get a false fail. I would spend a twelve hour shift just working for a kid to be sound asleep enough for me to do the test properly and even then I still might not get it! The only really good thing about these screens is that it does have parents who may have kids with hearing problems be more on the lookout earlier. 'Course the cost is freaking out a lot of folks with kids with normal hearing - I hope that's what's happening here. If not, the hearing test will help get your little one the additional help she needs as early as possible so she doesn't have as many (or hopefully ANY) issues with language development later. Hope this helps!

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My son failed both ears in the newborn screening, then had a follow up ABR and ASSR (diagnostic hearing test rather than just a screening) when he was 3 weeks old. He failed that too and was diagnosed profoundly deaf. It is CRITICAL to have newborn screenings done to diagnose those who are deaf so that early intervention can begin. My son had bilateral cochlear implant surgery at 6 months old and now is 3 years old and listens and speaks perfectly just like any other child. Had we not had the screening, we probably wouldn't have found out his deafness until 1 year, which really delays hearing intervention, and speech and language development. It is stressful waiting for that final word to know if your child can hear, but as many moms have attested to here, many screenings can be a false failure. Please keep your chin up, and whatever happens, there will be a positive end to your story, whether she can hear or not. I was devastated at the diagnosis that my son was deaf, but now 3 years later, he is just like any other child and such a pride and joy for us seeing how accomplished he is. I'm hoping your results are good and your daughter can hear, but if the testing doesn't go that way, I'd love to talk to you more about the hope and steps of what's to come. Please email me if that happens. Thanks!

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My daughter (now 14 months) failed both hearing tests that were given at the hospital. They wanted me to bring her back for an additional test but I did not think that she needed it because I could tell that she could hear. My mother's intuition was correct as she has wonderful hearing and says many words.

I'm sure that your daughter will pass this next test. My daughter was irritated by everything that was done to her in the hospital so she just did not want to cooperate for her hearing tests! Your daughter just probably needs some time to rest outside the hospital and will be ready for the next test.
Best wishes!
Peace & Blessings to you and your family!

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My one month old failed the hearing tests in the hospital because she was screaming so loud. We convinced them to retest her before we left the hospital (and this time used a pacifer) and she passed just fine. Hope everything works out!

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My son failed his hearing test the first and second day in the hospital but tested a few weeks later and passed and seems to hear just fine at 2.5 months. I really doubt you have much to worry about and if she flinches at all with any type of noise, then she can hear!

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I'm sure you've received plenty of responses already, but just wanted to assure you, the first hearing test means nothing even according to our own pediatrician! He said he wished they never even did them, as there was a high rate of failure on the first test, and this just caused parents unneeded stress. Our son failed in one ear on his first test, and my husband (a musician, and thus super-concerned about the hearing test) stressed out and kept trying to speak into our son's ear to see if he would respond between the tests. Our son didn't respond always, my husband unnecessarily stressed out, and then our son passed with flying colors on the second test. So try not to obsess about it too much (I know, easier said than done). Enjoy your new baby and congratulations!

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Hi B.,

I am the Newborn Hearing Screening Coordinator for six local hospitals and I can assure you that a baby referring in the hospital is not uncommon. Most babies pass during their out patient appointment. Even if she refers her Out Pt screen and has to go on for further testing there is a good chance she is still OK. The machine screens at 35dB which is compared to a whisper. Most commonly there is fluid in the ear due to the baby being in fluid for the last nine months. Sometimes we can even turn them on the side that did not pass and the next day they pass. The only reason they don't have you come back sooner is that the Newborn Hearing Screening Committee wants to give the baby every chance to dry up and loose that fluid. She might pass in a week or even two, but the hospital only has one chance to screen her as an out pt, so they wait a little longer. It would be too frustrating for all involved if we re-screened them earlier and they didn't pass just due to fluid. I hope this puts you as ease. Feel free to contact me if you have any further questions.

Melissa

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I know everyone says don't worry-as if that is possible. The plus of these tests is that if a child does have hearing loss, it can be dealt w/ quickly. So speech and learning wont be delayed. My son has hearing loss, and schools now must offer support-so, help is out there. If you do need it, the John Tracy Clinic in LA is known for being fantastic w/ babies. I hope you don't need it.

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Hello B.,
My son failed his first hearing test and the doctors immediately started to say that he was deaf. I always knew he wasn't because he always had wonderful response to my voice (it would soothe him almost immediately, make him happy, etc). A couple of months later he had the reliable test, the ABR (auditory brainstem response) and it came out perfect! He just had a bit of fluid in his left ear.
I would suggest waiting longer before doing a retest and maybe you should consider doing a different type of test
Hope this helps,
Maria

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Hi B.! My daughter failed her first test in one ear the first time, they actually checked her again the next day before we left the hospital and she passed!! So, hopefully your second test will be just fine!! :)

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SO COMMON! Yes, my son did fail his initial test and pass his 2nd. BUT--he was born with a cleft lip and palate--which affects the angle of the eustachian tubes in the ears--so at 5.5 months we still had to put tubes in him b/c the fluid remained. But he wasn't babblying at all---and that was one clue--no real sounds except crying.....so if you have concerns like at 3 months I'd check with a pediatric ENT---but totally common for this to happen, and I bet your precious will be perfectly fine! :)

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Hi B.,
But son failed the initial hearing test and had to be retested as well. I'm not sure how common it is, but I know I was very nervous about his hearing during that period of time as well. His second test came out fine.
When your baby is awake does she respond to noises? My thoughts will be with you for a positive results for baby on the next test.

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Both of my twins failed in the hospital. We had to take them back to the dr to re-test. They passed with flying colors.

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B.
I do newborn hearing screens at a local hospital and it is not uncommon for an infant to fail a hearing screen espeacially if it is done within 24 hours of birth and after a c-section.

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My daughter (now 3) failed her hearing test in just one ear. Looking back it may be because I held her right away and they couldn't reach to clean that ear while I was holding her. While she was awake she did respond to noises. The doctor, my husband and I weren't very concerned because we all saw her respond to noise. The doctor explained that fluid stays in their ears fairly often. If you haven't noticed your daughter turn toward your voice or startle at loud noises you could either wait till the test or give her opportunities to respond. Try talking to the back of your daughter's head while someone else is holding her. If you can do this during her "alert" phase you will likely notice her turn her head to face you while (or soon after) you are talking to her.

I wish you and your family the best of luck. Oh and by the way do you happen to have any hints for the rest of us? Clearly you have some great secrets if you haven't lost your sanity yet. Mine is quickly dissapearing and only have two.

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Hi B., My son, now 10 months, failed the newborn hearing test, and they did it like 6 times before I went home. I took him back 3 weeks later for a retest and he failed again, in the left ear. we were referred out to a place in Tarzana, but I never took him there. My ped recommended he go to House Ear Institute, in LA, so we went there. He was diagnosed with a unilateral hearing loss, called Audio Neuropothy, is is neurological and we found out at 7 weeks. There is awesome resources out there, if you need help, please let me know. Follow up with your docs and stay on top of this until you know for sure. It can be hard, I know from experience. my son is my 4th and with a busy/crazy loud household he was sleeping thru it all, he had not startle affect either. I was extreamy sad to find out he had no hearing in the left ear, and he never will hear from it, they cannot fix it with sergury or a hearing aid, but that is ok. I prayed to GOD for the strength to handle it and now I am fine with it. He does have hearing in the right ear and he is above normal when it comes to his gross motor skills, shut, the kid is already walking and talking! I wish you the best and if you need anything, please send me an e-mail. He also has a specialist teacher and a speach therapist from the Oxnard School District that comes to my house once a month to see how he is progressing, and they will continue to come until he is 3, then he will have other teachers to help him in school when he goes. IT is a great program! Good luck! M.

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Hey B.!

My son failed his hearing test in his left ear at the hospital twice. We came back a week later and he passed with flying colors. Try not to worry, it's actually pretty common. Also, I don't know what kind of birth you had, but they used a vacuum with us and one of the nurses told me it could be trauma from that (which didn't make me feel good, of course, but less worried about his hearing). Anyway, as I said, try not to worry, get as much rest as you can, and congratulations on your new baby girl!

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Yes, two of my 5 failed but second test showed normal and both hear fine now (4 and 7 yrs.). Doc said it was really common since there are so many factors affecting results.

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my son failed his hearing test in one ear in the hospital and has perfect hearing. he went to the audiologist at like 6 weeks old and showed a possible slight loss in one ear and went back at 7 months and showed no signs of any type of loss. did you have a cesarian? i've heard (no pun intended) that c-section babies fail their hearing test in the hospital more often than vaginal deliveries because not all the fluid was pushed out as would be during a vaginal... good luck!

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My second child did not pass the hearing test in the hospital. When we took him the next week for the secondary testing, he passed just fine. As some of the responses say above, the tests are very delicate and can be hard to get an accurate reading on the first try. Good luck and be positive and pray.

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I have a 7 mo. old. She came out facing my left leg making her left ear up. She failed her hearing test on her left ear in the hospital 4x. We went back 6 weeks later (that is the time they told us to retest) and she passed. We weren't too worried since she would turn her head to loud noises and voices. We were told the failed hearing test is typically due to fluid in the ears and that most babies when retested pass.
Good luck!

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My first born failed not only the first test administered by the hospital, but also her first follow-up at the Ped's office. My doc told me that newborn screenings aren't very reliable and he wished they didn't bother with them. Sure enough, when my daughter was 6 months she was re-tested & passed with flying colors. She's now 4 years old and sometimes I think she hears a little too well!!!!

Congrats on your new baby girl & try not to worry!

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My son failed the first time in one ear and then passed the second test two weeks later. I think he wasn't asleep for the first test and was sort of fussy which caused him to fail. My ped said it was very normal and to not worry about it. I was in the room when they conducted the second test and the nurse said it sometimes takes several times to get the babies to pass. Try not to worry too much about it.

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I have heard that there are many false positives in these newborn tests. All the baby has to do is be active for the possibility for it to throw off the test! There are actually two types of tests given for newborns but typically they give the most cost effective one that is far less accurate...and yes, fluid build up is one likely cause. Any movement or crying from the infant can prevent the equipment from detecting the response. It is important that the newborn is quiet or sleeping for the hearing screen. Feeding the baby just prior to the screening is often very helpful. My mother is 80% deaf so we took extra care with these tests...I had to read up quite a bit in order to assure myself that we weren't going to have any difficulties. DON'T worry....more likely than not, her hearing will be fine.

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