Newborn babies under hearing test

Posted on Apr 25 2002

Newborn babies at the Commonwealth Health Center now undergo audiological test – for free – to determine if they have hearing problems.

The Department of Public Health has recently launched the program, which is funded by the federal government.

“We do now have the universal newborn screening test. Every child that’s born here, we automatically test for hearing,” said DPH’s Pete Untalan.

Aside from a pediatrician, newborn babies would have to be checked up by an audiologist.

“There’s a battery of tests that the audiologist does for all newborns,” Untalan said. “That’s the standard of care now.”

He said there is an average of 104 babies who are born at the CHC every month.

However, data as to how many of the infants had hearing problems were not immediately available as of press time.

Untalan also said there were school children who were referred to the audiologist for check-up, but a report as to the number of those with hearing problems was similarly unavailable.

Saipan to host Pacific Rim Tournament

Babauta lists down accomplishments

Disclaimer: Comments are moderated. They will not appear immediately or even on the same day. Comments should be related to the topic. Off-topic comments would be deleted. Profanities are not allowed. Comments that are potentially libelous, inflammatory, or slanderous would be deleted.