How many newborns get a "no response" on their hearing tests ?

[Tillyscoutsmum]

DS had his done yesterday and had a no response in his left ear. HV was adamant it was nothing to worry about and was very common to get a no response on the first test (could be caused by wax, congestion etc.) and that most babies tended to be fine at subsequent tests.

Obviously, I am a hormonal new mother so I am worried and just wondered how common it actually was....

[FabIsGoingToBeFabIn2010]

My child was deaf at birth but still passed his newborn ear test..

I would demand ask that it be done again in a week or twos time.

[ILikeToMoveItMoveIt]

I believe it's quite common as they can have fluid in the ear.

You'll probably get a date for a re-test come through in the next few weeks.

ds1 didn't get a result in one ear at birth, but he was re-tested and everything was fine.

[MrsJohnDeere]

Both mine got no response in one ear the first time the test was attempted (day after birth). The lady who did it tried again 3 days later and (after an awful lot of waiting and tweaking various wires and pads) did get a response. Took about 2 hours with ds2.

[Tillyscoutsmum]

Thanks all. We've got an appointment for a repeat test next week so fingers crossed

[Indith]

They never managed dd's (several appointments, combination of her having a cold, being too awake, wires needing jiggling etc) she ended up having a distraction test at 9m months instead.

[JollyPirate]

Hi, I used to do these tests when I was a HV in the West Country. Here in the South East the tests are done in the hospital and the failures are much higher on the first test. One of the reasons the HVs did them in the West Country is because a higher number fail if they are done earlier and so create more worry.
FWIW I found that about 5% of babies fail on one side or another during the first test but virtually all pass on the second test. One HV I worked with could never test the machines because despite having perfect hearing the machine just could not pick this up.

The liklihood is your DS will get a result rapidly next week. If not they can test the hearing in a different way.

[JaneiteQuiteRight]

DD2 failed lots of hearing tests, up until the age of about two and a half, including being sent to the hospital several times for more tests. She is absolutely fine.

Congratulations btw.

[Tillyscoutsmum]

Thanks again - very reassuring

[angel1976]

DS2 got no response in both ears in his first hearing test but passed both ears a week later. Again, was told by HV it was very common due to fluid in the ears. Good luck, I am sure it is nothing to worry about (you can't help but worry though!).