Preparing for Newborn Hearing Screening Tests

Your child has been referred for specialized hearing tests at UMass Memorial Medical Center. The following information will help you prepare for your child’s hearing test. 

What To Expect

The specialized hearing tests will require your child to be asleep for approximately 60 to 90 minutes. These tests are very accurate for determining hearing sensitivity provided that your child is in a sound sleep state throughout testing. Sticker-type sensors will be placed on your baby’s head and detect brain activity while they listen to sounds played through soft earphones. 

How To Prepare

The following measures are strongly recommended to allow us to obtain reliable results.

Below are recommended guidelines, however, you know your child the best, so please adjust your child’s schedule in whatever way you feel is necessary to best achieve this sleep state.

• Keep your child awake for two hours prior to the test appointment. Having another adult in the car to help keep the child awake during the ride to the hospital is often helpful.
• Bring a bottle or be prepared to breastfeed just prior to the start of the test. Your child should arrive hungry and ready to be fed, so please adjust your child’s feeding schedule accordingly. You’ll be given time and privacy to feed your child once you have arrived and the baby’s skin has been prepped for the placement of sensors.
• Please don’t bring other children to this appointment as we will need complete quiet in the test room, and you will be required to remain in the room while your baby is being tested. Other children can’t be left unattended in our waiting room.

We realize that this preparation may put strain on you and your baby. The most common factor in not obtaining reliable results is insufficient preparation. If reliable results aren’t obtained, we’ll reschedule and repeat the preparation and testing process. We appreciate your efforts to help us provide the most accurate information regarding your child’s hearing sensitivity.

Testing Locations

Arrive at your testing location 15 minutes before the appointment time. This will allow you adequate time for parking and registration. To expedite the registration process, you may pre-register by calling 508-334-9902 and selecting option 3 or check in ahead of time using myChart.  

• UMass Memorial Medical Center – University Campus 
  55 Lake Avenue North, Worcester, MA 01655
  When you arrive, take the B or orange elevator to A level. The Audiology Department is located across from this elevator bay.
   
• UMass Memorial Medical Center – Hahnemann Campus 
  281 Lincoln Street, Worcester, MA 01606
  When you arrive, you will be in the Main Lobby on the 2^nd floor of the building.  Proceed to the registration desk in the main lobby/waiting area.

Questions? 

If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to call the Audiology Department at 774- 442-3996.