Have you heard? The Georgia Universal Newborn Hearing Screening Program

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Four good reasons you should have your baby's hearing tested

n Yonr baby's hearing can be a tested within a few honrs
after birth.

(2) Otoacoustlc [missions (OAE) - This lest measures a baby's responses to sounds directly, using a small microphone amI a special computer.

In Georgia, 300 babies each year are born with hearing loss.
H caring sounds helps a baby learn \0 talk and communicate. A baby's brain continues 10 grow after birth.
If a baby cannot hear, parIs of (he brain
neede(! for good language skills may nol develop. If you know tlla! your baby has a hearing loss, there are things you can do [0 help yow' baby develop language skills. The sooner you slart doing 1I18se things, the betler the outcome for yuur baby.
Mosl babies do not have hearing loss, but it is important to be SUI'C as early as possible. Early testing allows fUl' early treatmenl, if
llearing loss is detected.
Ear'ly tl'calment can pt'ovide earlier sound stimulation fur i;I baby's brain.
It Is good to have a newborn baby's hearing checked before leaving the hospital.

B ecause of tile numller of babies affected with hearing loss eacll year, the state of Georgia is asking that all hospitals and health pl'oviciers leactl parents about tile need 10 screen a new baby's hearing.

If a hospital does not provide hearing screen-
ings, ask your doctor or the hospital staff \0 refer you to a place where your baby's hearing can be rested.

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Infant hearing screening is painless.

M OSt babies sleep Ihl'ough theil' hearing sCl'eening tes\. Thel'e are two types of hearing screening lests for babies:

(1) Automated Auditory Brainstem Response (MBR) - This tests the baby'S ability to hear soft sounds thl'ough small eal'phones. Baby's brainwaves al'e measured to find out whether the sounds al'e processed normally.

Both tests are vel)! safe, easy on the baby, and take only a few minutes.
I I Early identification and treatment are the keys to snccess.
T tlere are many I'easans why your b(luy may nol "pass" Ihe first hearing screen. In these cases, a follow-up lest must be done to find out jf a baby really does have a heal'ing loss. The baby's doctol' or the hospHal can tell you when and whel'e the follovv-up tesl will lake place. It is V81'y impol'tanl to the baby's development to have this follow-up test.
8abies Wll0 have hear'ing loss can IJe Iwlped in many ways 10 develop their full potential. There are both pl'ivate and pulJliC programs available to help a baby witt1 hearing loss. Ask youI' baby's C!octOl' for a mfcrml, 01' call Pal'ent-To-Parent of Georgia for more information at 1-800-229-2038
or 77().451-5484.

The Georgia Universal Newborn Hearing Screening Program

Speech,Language, and Hearing Skills
Achild wilh normal hearing will:
At around NO months of age: . . 81al'IIe 10 loud sound
fi Quiet 10 familiar voice
Make vowel soumIs like "ol1l1,~ "allh"
At around four months of age:
~ Look for sounds wi til eyes ~ SlaI'l babbling ~ Use a variety of voice sounds, suell
as squeals, whirnpcl's, chuckles
At around six months of age: . . Turn head toward sound
~ Begin to imitale speech sounds
DBabble ("ba-ba," "rna-rna," "da-da")
Al around nine months of age:
~ Irnitale speech sounds of aillers
~ Understand "nO-I10" or' "bye-bye"
b lui'll head toward soft sounds
At around twelve months of age:
i!i) CorTeclly use "rna-rna" 01' "(Ia-(Ia" ~ Hanel over lOy when askcc! ~ Respond to singing or music
~ Locate sound at all levels
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screenillg can u<;uaJly sllO\\ thaI YOllr balJl, has nOnllal hearing at lhe lime of the screening. Ho\\C\cr, Ihe ability 10 hc.ar C<1n be rost or damaged al allY age. Ear infections ilml higll fevers aI'O jllst some of the things IIml can Cillise Ilcllt'iflg loss.
If yOIl c\er tHl\C conr.erns about your child's hearing, speech, or language, be sure 10 discuss lhem with YOllr child's doclor.
If you do nOlll,M a doctor. you can call YOllr local heallh dellartrnent or the Pm\erline for a
rerelT'd! at: (800) 8222539 or (404) 451-5501.
Loving, Caring, and Sharing
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OMolon of Public Heahh Family Heahh Branch
omoo ollnlant and Child Health se....oos
l\Wl PeaGhlree Street NW 11th Floor Attanla, Glmrgifl 303033t42
(404) ()574t43 Fax (404) 4636729
Georgia Relay Sen'icc 1800-255-0056 nv
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The Georgia Unll"Cl'l;dl ~CI\bom Hearing SC:ret'ning Progr-dlll is a r.ollaboratM~ ellort of lhe DlIision of Pu[)lic Health, audlolOSls.
p1l)~n~. hospila1s. Iegislalors. and parcl1ls