Newborn hearing screening programme (NHSP): care pathways for babies in neonatal intensive care units (NICU)
Updated 16 December 2024
Applies to England
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This flowchart (illustration and text description below) describes the care pathway for newborn hearing screening for babies in neonatal intensive care units.
1. Provide information
2. Is baby contra-indicated with atresia/microtia, bacterial meningitis, confirmed cCMV or a programmable shunt for screening?
Yes: refer for immediate audiological assessment within 4 weeks of screen completion or by 44 weeks gestational age. End of pathway.
No: offer screening. Go to question 3.
3. Is consent given?
Yes: provide automated otoacoustic emission (AOAE) and automated auditory brainstem response (AABR) screening tests. Go to question 4.
No: provide checklists and inform GP or health visitor (HV). End of pathway.
4. Is AABR clear response and AOAE clear response in both ears?
Yes: go to question 5.
No: go to question 6.
5. Are risk factors present?
Yes: refer for audiological assessment at 7 to 9 months of age. End of pathway.
No: discharge and advise parents to monitor baby’s development. End of pathway.
6. Is AABR clear response and AOAE no clear response in one ear?
Yes: go to question 5.
No: go to question 7.
7. Is AABR clear response and AOAE no clear response in both ears?
Yes: refer for audiological assessment at 7 to 9 months of age. End of pathway.
No: go to question 8.
8. Is AABR no clear response or inconclusive result in one or both ears?
Yes: refer for immediate audiological assessment within 4 weeks of screen completion or by 44 weeks gestational age. End of pathway.
No: go to question 5.