Hearing Screening

Child and Adolescent Clinic fully participates in the Washington State Newborn Hearing Screening Program. All newborn babies undergo painless Otoacoustic Emmissions (OAE) testing either at the hospital shortly after birth, or at the clinic. Infants who do not pass the initial screening are retested at the clinic at one of their early appointments. Babies with persistent difficulties or risk factors for hearing loss are referred to experienced hearing professionals so that interventions and therapies can begin early for hearing-impaired infants. In addition to newborn screening, all school-aged children have hearing screenings during their annual well-child visits.