<b>Newborn hearing screening is important for early intervention</b>

Before leaving the hospital, babies go through many evaluations and tests. One of these is a newborn hearing screening. It may seem early to test a baby's ears, but hearing loss is prevalent enough — occurring in two to three babies per 1,000, according to the National Institutes of Health (NIH) — to warrant this initial screening test. The most intense period of speech and language development occurs in the first three years of your child's life, so when it comes to hearing loss, early intervention is best. Click here to learn more about what to expect from newborn hearing screenings.