Do premature babies get extra hearing tests?

[misslinnet]

I'm a bit confused.

I've just received a letter telling me to take 9 month old DS for a child hearing test with a specialist audiologist, but - I was told that he'd passed the newborn hearing test, and we've not noticed any warning signs about his hearing since then.

I'm fairly certain this isn't normal for full term babies (unless they failed the first hearing tests). Is it routine for premature babies? DS was 6 weeks early.

It could of course just be some NHS administrative blunder.

[GotMyLittleLamb]

hi, DD was born at 26 weeks, she passed the newborn hearing test but they said they would want to see he her in about 8 months. There is a number of criteria why this would be the case, I can't remember them all but I know that with us its because DD was fully ventilated for more than 6 days. I think its pretty normal for premies yes.

nothing lost by going anyway, just extra reassurance.

[Mandy21]

Hi there. Do you have the book that you were given by the HV when your son was born? Ours is called "the red book" - has details of all the assessments they're supposed to have / record of vaccinations etc. Every child gets one (not just premature babies).

There is (or certainly used to be) a check list that was done at the 8 month assessment - it asks questions like (off the top of my head)

Did the baby have anti-biotics at birth / just after birth?
Did the baby spend time on SCBU?
Did the baby have a blood transfusion?
Was the baby ventilated?
Did the baby receive oxygen?

I think there is also one relating to the birth weight - effectively lots of questions where the answer would probably be "yes" for a premature baby. If you answer yes to more than a certain number, you're automatically referred for additional check-ups. Its nothing to worry about, I think its routine for most prem babies (and doesn't mean he has any probs with his hearing), it might be that they just send the letters out routinely for prem babies in your area. My babies both went through it.

Whilst its reassuring to know they're checking everything for you the tests themselves are quite hit and miss - ie playing noises and expecting your child to turn round towards the noise. My DS never turned round - never worried it was because he couldn't hear - just that he wasn't interested in playing "the game" !!

[CMOTDibbler]

This may well be down to local practice though as ds was prem, in SCBU for a week, had IV ABs, oxygen etc and never had a hearing test after the one done in SCBU

[RedBlanket]

My prem DTs did. they also had extra eye tests.
One of them failed and had to go again because although he turned found the first time they made a noise behind him he didn't do it the second time beacuse he knew who was there.
I've no worries about his hearing though, he can hear me open a packet of biscuits in the kitchen from the bottom of the garden.

[misslinnet]

DS's red book just says "Discharge to routine child health surveillance" in the hearing section.

But he did get IV antibiotics, CPAP and 3.5 weeks in scbu, so sounds like that's probably why he's been invited to go for another hearing test.

I've also spent most of the afternoon sneaking up behind him and making a variety of small noises. His hearing seems fine to me