Our Service
Welcome to our team at Northampton General Hospital.
The Newborn Hearing Screening Programme (NHSP) is a national service and provides all new parents the option to have their baby's hearing screened within the first few weeks of life.
We aim to screen as many babies as possible whilst they are on the wards, but if this is not possible, we will send a clinic appointment. It is important to identify any problems with hearing as quickly as possible, as the early involvement from the audiology team gives babies a better outlook for speech and language development, response to sounds and other aspects of development.
Screening
The initial test performed on all babies is an AOAE (automated Otoacoustic emissions)
An ABR (Auditory Brainstem Response) is the second (if required) screen we perform.
Babies who have been on Gosset Ward (NICU) for more than 48 hours will have both screens completed.
Meet the team
Our screening team consists of 5 Newborn Hearing Screeners, 1 Senior Screener and a Local Programme Manager who are based close to the maternity unit.
They are supported by the Lead Paediatric Audiologist whose service completes the diagnostic assessment of babies referred by the screeners. The Specialist Consultant Paediatrician quality assures the programme and is involved with the babies diagnosed through the Newborn Hearing Screening Programme.
Newborn hearing screening started at Northampton General Hospital in May 2005. The dedicated team all work together to provide valuable service for local families throughout the whole year.
For more information about the NHSP national service please follow the below links.
Or contact the newborn hearing screening office on 01604 523810. There is an answer machine so if we are unable to answer your call please leave a message and we will return your call.