Newborn Hearing Screening Programme

The Newborn Hearing Screening Programme (NHSP) is part of our audiology service. It provides hearing screening for all newborn babies.

Hearing screen tests allow babies who have a hearing loss to be identified early, so that diagnosis, intervention, habilitation and support and information to families is provided at a very early stage.

We carry out the screening tests at:

• St Thomas' Hospital
• King's College Hospital
• University Hospital Lewisham
• Queen Elizabeth Hospital
• Princess Royal University Hospital

Ideally, a hearing screen should be carried out within four weeks of birth, but can also be carried out at up to three months of age. Babies who do not receive a hearing screen after they are born are offered screening in our outpatient clinics.

The NHSP will refer babies to the audiology service for further hearing investigations if this is appropriate.