Hearing test for children

Why hearing tests in childhood matter

Hearing loss can happen at any age. However, hearing loss may cause delays in speech, language and social skills during infancy and early childhood. This is why hearing tests for children and infants are important for their development.

Key Takeaways

Hearing is fully developed by the time a baby is born.
Babies should undergo a Universal Newborn Hearing screening shortly after birth to determine if there are any issues.
Hearing loss in babies and young children can lead to developmental delays. Diagnosing and treating it early can help prevent this.
Audiologists use different types of hearing tests depending on a child’s age.
Children should continue to have their hearing tested as they grow and reach adolescence.

How hearing develops in infants and young children

Hearing is a sense that develops early on, before a baby is even born. By birth, a baby’s hearing should be fully functioning. However, it’s important to remember that every child is different, and some may reach different milestones at different ages.

Should children have their hearing tested?

Yes, children should have their hearing tested to check for signs of hearing loss. Detecting hearing loss early on is important in helping children get treated more effectively. It can also help prevent developmental delays.

At what age should children get a hearing test?

Many people wonder, “At what age should children get an eye and hearing test?” According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), all babies should be screened for hearing loss no later than 1 month of age¹. Ideally, this screening is done in the hospital shortly after the baby is born. This is part of the Universal Newborn Hearing Screenings, a requirement for babies in 43 states.

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Causes of hearing problems in children

There are several common causes of hearing loss. In babies specifically, one out of two cases of hearing loss is due to genetics, and one out of four cases is due to maternal infections during pregnancy, according to the CDC.²

Common signs of hearing loss

There are several signs and symptoms of hearing loss. Some common signs of hearing loss in babies include:

Not startling or waking at loud noises
Not turning toward the source of a sound after 6 months of age
Not saying words by 1 year of age

In children, signs of hearing loss include:

Delayed and unclear speech
Not following directions
Listening to music or the television with the volume up high

Types of hearing tests by age

Different hearing tests are recommended at different ages. Newborn hearing screenings typically include otoacoustic emissions test and an auditory brainstem response test. As children get older, tests can include visual reinforcement audiometry, tympanometry, play audiometry, pure-tone audiometry and speech-recognition testing, depending on their age and specific needs. Learn more about these types of hearing tests for children by age, below.

Newborn hearing screening (0-1 month)

Many people wonder “What hearing test is done on newborns?” Below are a few tests commonly performed on infants within 24 hours of being born in a hospital.

An otoacoustic emissions (OAE) test checks for damage in the hair cells in the cochlea. A small device is placed in the ear which makes and measures sound. This test can be done on newborns because it doesn’t require any cooperation from them. It can even be done while they are asleep.

An auditory brainstem response test is done by placing electrodes on the person’s head. The electrodes record brain wave activity in response to sounds. When this test is performed on newborns, only one volume of sound is tested.

Preschool hearing screening

The following hearing screenings are what children usually have when approaching preschool.

A visual reinforcement audiometry (VRA) is a type of behavioral hearing test done for young children. It involves a child looking toward a visual target in response to a sound. This helps train children to respond to sound and gauge whether a child hears the sounds presented.

Tympanometry is another common hearing test for children. This is a type of test that measures how a person’s middle ear is working—including the eardrum and Eustachian tube. An audiologist will insert a probe into the ear which will emit air pressure and a low sound. This records how the person’s eardrum moves in response to the air pressure, with results displayed on a graph called a tympanogram.

Tympanometry can also measure acoustic reflexes. The stapedius (a tiny muscle in the middle ear) involuntarily contracts when exposed to loud sounds. An acoustic reflex test measures how the middle responds to sound stimuli by testing how loud of a noise is needed to activate this reflex. This test is conducted by inserting a probe into the ear and is another way that hearing loss can be detected in children.

School hearing screenings or adolescent tests

Children are also recommended to get certain hearing tests as they get older. Here are a few other types of hearing tests for children.

Play audiometry is a type of hearing test where a child plays a game where they perform an action in response to hearing a sound. Examples of games are building towers with blocks or throwing toys into a bucket.

Pure-tone audiometry testing is a common hearing test where a person responds to a sound playing through headphones by raising their hand or pressing a button when they hear a tone. When using headphones, it allows audiologists to test one ear at a time by only playing the sound in one ear.

Another type of hearing test is speech recognition testing. This testing checks to see how a person is able to recognize and repeat words. The audiologist may say words through headphones and the child will repeat the words back or point to a picture corresponding to the word.

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Children’s hearing test near me

While Miracle-Ear does not offer testing or sell products to children under 18 years old, the Miracle-Ear Foundation partners with schools to provide hearing tests for students.

How do they do a newborn hearing test?

Newborn hearing tests can be done while a baby is asleep or resting. Neither OAE nor ABR tests require any cooperation from those being tested.

How long does a newborn hearing test take?

A hearing screening for a newborn usually takes around 15 minutes to complete³.

Hearing test results for newborns

When a newborn gets a hearing screening, the results are provided before the family leaves the hospital⁴. If there are any concerns or abnormalities in the test results, your healthcare professional will advise you on next steps.

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Newborn and children failed hearing test

What does a newborn failed hearing test mean? It’s important to remember that hearing screenings for newborns are not intended to diagnose hearing loss⁵. If a newborn fails their hearing screening at the hospital, it means more testing needs to be done. Further testing is usually recommended as soon as possible in order to learn why there are hearing issues and to treat these issues, if necessary.

Newborns should get their hearing tested at the hospital before they are brought home. For babies born at home or not in a hospital setting, a hearing test should be done within their first month.

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FAQs about hearing tests for children

A child’s hearing is fully developed by birth. This is why hearing tests are done shortly after a baby is born.

Yes, most insurance companies cover hearing tests for children performed at a hospital, and most community agencies and schools provide hearing screenings at no charge. However, other types of hearing tests performed at audiology clinics may not be covered. You will likely need to pay for these out of pocket. If you have questions about insurance coverage, reach out to your individual insurance carrier.

**Miracle-Ear does not test or sell to people under the age of 18.

Sources

¹ “Screening for Hearing Loss.” Centers of Disease Control and Prevention. October 8, 2024. www.cdc.gov/hearing-loss-children/screening/index.html

² “About Hearing Loss in Children.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. May 15, 2024. https://www.cdc.gov/hearing-loss-children/about/index.html

³“Newborn Hearing Screening Information For Parents.” State of Rhode Island Department of Health. Accessed September 9, 2025. https://health.ri.gov/newborn-screening/information/parents-newborn-hearing-screening-information

⁴ “Newborn Hearing Screening Information For Parents.” State of Rhode Island Department of Health. Accessed September 9, 2025. https://health.ri.gov/newborn-screening/information/parents-newborn-hearing-screening-information

⁵ “Newborn Hearing Screening Information For Parents.” State of Rhode Island Department of Health. Accessed September 9, 2025. https://health.ri.gov/newborn-screening/information/parents-newborn-hearing-screening-information