Universal Newborn Hearing Screening Programme
Newborn hearing screening checks whether your baby hears well. If your baby has a hearing loss, finding it early will help their language, learning and social development. All eligible babies can have newborn hearing screening free of charge.
Newborn hearing screening checks whether your baby hears well. All eligible babies can have newborn hearing screening free of charge.
If your baby has a hearing loss, finding it early will help their language, learning and social development. This is important for the children as well as their families/whānau and society.
The core goals of the Universal Newborn Hearing Screening Programme are based on international programme measures and are described as '1-3-6' goals:
1. Babies to be screened by 1 month of age
3. Audiology assessment completed by 3 months of age
6. Starting appropriate medical and audiological services, and early intervention education services, by 6 months of age.
This programme is jointly led by the Ministries of Health and Education to ensure that babies who have hearing loss receive ongoing support.
Our Whānau/Aiga/Family - Our Hearing Screening Story
A short video about the value and impact of newborn hearing screening on the lives of newborn babies with hearing loss, and their families.
In this section
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Your baby may have screening before leaving the hospital and at the latest, screening should be finished by the time baby is 1 month old.
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This diagram guides you through the Universal Newborn Hearing Screening process.
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The Universal Newborn Hearing Screening and Early Intervention Programme (UNHSEIP) uses a two stage aABR screening test to screen for hearing loss.
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Find answers to some commonly asked questions about the Universal Newborn Hearing Screening Programme.
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There is a wealth of knowledge available on the internet. Below are some recommended sites.
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These resources, and other resources provided by the Ministry of Health, are available to order from the Ministry of Health's HealthEd website.
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Many New Zealanders participate in screening programmes and have their own stories to tell. We are privileged to be able to share some of those stories.
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Hearing screening is performed by your local DHB.
Page last updated: 21 November 2014