RA 9709

Universal Newborn Hearing

Screening and Intervention Act
Why Newborn should undergo Hearing
Screening?
1. An infant born with hearing
impairment does not show obvious
symptoms.

2. Hearing is important so that a child

will be able to talk.

3. A child who grows up deaf will

have difficulty in speaking and
learning.
When is the right time to screen infants?

On or after 24 Not more than Not more than

2
1

3
hours after birth 3 months of age 2 months for
before the baby is if the infant is Philhealth
discharged from born out-of-the- Reimbursement
the hospital. hospital
(If hospital born)
How many Newborns are affected by hearing
loss/impairment?
 1-4 infants per 1000
livebirths are born with
hearing impairment in
the world (Global, NIH
Data)
 an estimate of 8 babies
are born with profound
deafness
(Philippine Data)

A newborn undergoing hearing screening.

How do we know if Baby has
a hearing problem?
 The screener may use Otoacoustic
Emission(OAE) Machine or Automated
Auditory Brainstem Response (AABR) as AABR
screening test.
 The tests are fast to perform and last 5-10
minutes
 Aside from the machine, it only requires a quiet
environment and a calm infant.

OAE Machine
The hearing apparatus of
the ear -COCHLEA

Otoacoustic Emissions (OAE)

- are the sounds detected in the
screening for hearing in newborn using
the OAE machines.
 Interpretation of Results for OAE
PASS or REFER
3 possible outcomes:
1. Bilateral Pass (Both ears pass)
2. Unilateral Refer (Only one ear passes)
3. Bilateral Refer (Neither ear passes)
Bilateral Pass Results
Schedule of Determining the Cause of
Hearing Loss and Intervention

• Hearing • Confirmatory • Early Hearing

Screening using Hearing Test Intervention
OAE or AABR

1 First Month 3 Third Month 6 Sixth Month

 Developmental Milestone
The following milestone should be noted while the child is growing up:

0-3 Months
• Startled when hearing a loud noise
• Soothed and quieted when hearing familiar voices and soft sounds
3-6 Months
• Looks and turns toward sound
• Begins to repeat sound or bubling
• Enjoys playing rattles and toys that make sounds
 Developmental Milestone
The following milestone should be noted while the child is growing up:

6-12 Months
• Responds to sounds even when not loud
• Imitates simple words and sounds
• Responds to name calling
• Knows common words or things such as “bye-bye”
12 Months and Above
• Can clearly say “Mama and Papa”
• Plays with own voice, enjoy sounds and feels it
• Point towards or look at familiar objects
Newborn Hearing
Screening Center
(HSC)
ADMINISTRATIVE MECHANICS
 Where to avail Hearing Screening Services

The client may avail the service at any registered Newborn

Hearing Screening Center

- These centers are health facilities licensed by DOH and

certified/classified by Newborn Hearing Screening Reference
Center ----- it can be a hospital, health center or stand alone
clinic.
 Where will we refer the baby for
Confirmatory Hearing Test?

There are 4 Categories of Hearing Screening Centers (HSC).

Category Screening Diagnosis Hearing Aid Ear Surgery, Cochlear Implant and
Fitting Speech Rehab

Category A HSC 
Category B HSC  
Category C HSC   
Category D HSC    
How to become a Hearing Screening
Center (HSC)?
PROVINCE Category A Category B Category C Category D Total HSC-All
HSC HSC HSC HSC Types
Albay 3 0 0 0 3

Cam Norte 2 0 0 0 2

Cam Sur 8 0 0 0 8

Catanduanes 2 0 0 0 2

Masbate 1 0 0 0 1

Sorsogon 0 0 0 0 0
How to become a Newborn Hearing
Screening Center (HSC)?
The interested health facility may apply as a Hearing Screening Center
by satisfying the necessary requirements in each of the following areas:
1. Certification
2. Facility
3. Equipment
4. Connectivity
5. Personnel
Who are qualified to perform the Hearing
Screening test?
MINIMUM

 adult (>/= 19 years old)

 may include audiometrists, audiologists and licensed health

professionals such as medical technologists, physicians, nurses,
nurse assistants, midwives and barangay health workers.

 certified in a DOH-NIH training program

How can we increase the
number of babies screened
for Hearing Test?
1. Increase the number of Newborn Hearing Screening Centers
a. Encourage more health facilities to procure
Hearing Screening Machine
b. Lobby for financial support to LGU
c. Propose equipment to Health Facility Enhancement
Program (HFEP)
d. Pass a policy supporting comprehensive newborn
care including Newborn Hearing Screening
2. Strengthen the Service Delivery Network per ILHZ
a. The ILHZ may share resources from among its
member municipalities to fund the procurement of the
hearing screening machine
b. Create a MOA with the certified Hearing Screening
Center if currently not having a machine
3. Increase Awareness on Hearing Screening and Include Hearing
Screening as an indicator to Newborn’s Health
You may ask us! We are
willing to answer your
inquiries.

www.newbornhearingscreening.ph
Address: NIH Bldg. Room 105, University of the Philippines,
Ermita, Manila
Email: nhsrc.nih@gmail.com Phone: (02) 5158303 Telefax.
No: (02) 526-4349 Cell No: 09993071096