Newborn hearing screening programme (NHSP): care pathways for well babies
Updated 29 October 2020
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This flowchart (illustration and text description below) describes the care pathway for newborn hearing screening for babies that are well.
1. Provide information
2. Is baby contra-indicated with atresia/microtia, bacterial meningitis, confirmed cCMV or a programmable shunt for screening?
Yes: refer for immediate audiological assessment within 4 weeks of screen completion or by 44 weeks gestational age. End of pathway.
No: offer screening test. Go to question 3.
3. Is consent given?
Yes: perform an automated otoacoustic emission (AOAE) screening test. Go to question 4.
No: provide checklists and inform GP or health visitor (HV). End of pathway.
4. Is AOAE1 screening test clear response in both ears?
Yes: go to question 7.
No: perform an automated otoacoustic emission 2 (AOAE2) screening test. Go to question 5.
5. Is AOAE2 screening test clear response in both ears?
Yes: go to question 7.
No: perform an automated auditory brainstem response (AABR) screening test. Go to question 6.
6. Is AABR screening test clear response in both ears?
Yes: go to question 7.
No: refer for immediate audiological assessment within 4 weeks of screen completion or by 44 weeks gestational age. End of pathway.
7. Are risk factors present?
Yes: refer for audiological assessment at 7 to 9 months of age. End of pathway.
No: discharge and advise parents to monitor baby’s development. End of pathway.