Universal Newborn Hearing Screening Programme

Parents with baby
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.

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Page last updated: 21 November 2014