Infant Hearing Screening (OAE) As every parent knows, sometimes children hear, but they don't listen. Hearing screenings on newborn to three-years pose a special situation. While children older than three can interact and communicate with the screener, younger children cannot accurately participate. Unfortumately this is the age when children learn the majority of sounds and also is the most crucial age for testing.Children whose hearing problems have gone undetected may have impaired language development and, down the road, less academic success. A simple screening test has been developed. The otoacoustic emissions test (OAE) is quick and easy to conduct. A small device resembling an earplug is placed in the ear canal. The person being tested hears only a series of rapid clicks or tones. For an infant the test takes from 15 seconds to 2 minutes for each ear. And it's fairly inexpensive. Universal infant screening is already mandatory in most states, and more are beginning to require the testing. Hundreds of hospitals throughout the country are electing to screen every newborn. About 4 percent to 8 percent do not pass the initial screening and need to be re-screened either before leaving the hospital or at the first well-baby checkup. Eighty-five perecent of those who are re-screened will pass, leaving about 1 percent who need additional evaluation. If permanent hearing loss is confirmed, these children can be fitted with hearing aids at ages as young as 2 to 3 months. They then can begin receiving language enrichment stimulation. The screening is painless, easy and can take as little as 2 minutes to conduct. In order for the test to work, children must be tested while in a quiet state. For parents who think their children will cry during the test, clinicians recommends bringing them in while they're asleeep. Please visit our ENT Locator section to find the nearest ENT Physician in your community that conducts Infant Hearing Screening(OAE).