Why test a newborn's hearing?
About 5–6 babies in every 1,000 in India are born with some hearing loss — and it is invisible. A baby with hearing loss smiles, sleeps and cries like every other baby. The problem only becomes obvious at age 2–3, when speech doesn't come — and by then, the brain's best window for learning language has already passed.
Hearing loss found before 6 months and treated early → near-normal speech development. Found after age 2 → years of difficult catch-up. That's why every newborn should be screened.
The tests, explained simply
- OAE (Otoacoustic Emissions) — a tiny soft probe in the ear plays gentle sounds and measures the inner ear's echo. Takes 5 minutes, completely painless, done while the baby sleeps. This is the standard first screening for every newborn.
- BERA (Brainstem Evoked Response Audiometry) — small sensors on the head measure how the hearing nerve and brainstem respond to sound. The gold-standard diagnostic test if OAE shows a "refer" result.
- ASSR — an advanced test that estimates how much hearing the baby has at each pitch, which is essential for fitting hearing aids in infants accurately.
When should my baby be tested?
- Every newborn: OAE screening before 1 month of age (ideally before leaving the hospital).
- If screening shows "refer": repeat OAE + BERA by 3 months.
- High-risk babies (NICU stay, jaundice needing phototherapy, premature birth, family history of deafness): BERA testing even if OAE passes.
- Any age child whose speech is delayed: hearing test first, always.
What if hearing loss is found?
Early help works. Depending on the degree of loss, the path may be infant hearing aids, cochlear implant evaluation, and auditory-verbal therapy (AVT) — all available with us. Families get a clear, step-by-step plan, not just a report.
Signs you should book a newborn hearing screening
- Every newborn — OAE screening is recommended before 1 month of age
- Baby spent time in NICU, had jaundice needing phototherapy, or was premature
- Family history of childhood deafness
- Baby doesn't startle at loud sounds or turn to your voice by 6 months
- No babbling by 10–12 months
- Speech is delayed at any age — hearing must be ruled out first
What it costs in Gandhinagar
Last updated: June 2026 — prices reviewed quarterly.
| Test/Service | Typical range | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| OAE screening | ₹300–600 per ear | 5-minute screening, done while baby sleeps |
| Diagnostic BERA | ₹1,500–3,500 | Gold-standard diagnostic after a "refer" result |
The same-day explained report is always included, and families travelling from other cities get scheduling priority so everything finishes in one trip — call 88776 72821 for current clinic charges — no hidden fees.
A pattern we see often in clinic: parents bring a two-and-a-half-year-old for "speech delay", and BERA reveals a significant hearing loss that was never suspected because the baby seemed to respond at home. Loud sounds, vibrations and visual cues mask hearing loss surprisingly well — which is exactly why objective newborn screening matters so much.