Screening Tests
Hearing Screen
Premature babies are more likely to have hearing problems then full term infants. A hearing screen is very important in babies because hearing loss may be treated. Untreated, the baby's learning and development will be delayed.
A special test called a Brainstem Auditory Evokes Response (BAER) is often used to check a baby's hearing before six months of age. For this test, monitor pads (like the heart rate leads) are placed on the baby's scalp. He listens to clicks at different volumes through earphones while he is quite or asleep. The information is recorded by a computer and is used to see how the brain responded to the sounds. This test is more accurate as the baby matures, so sometimes a baby my need to have this test repeated when he is between three and six months of age (corrected). An abnormal test does not always mean a baby is deaf or has serious hearing problem. It means we need to follow him until he is old enough to be tested more accurately.
Eye Exam
Before a baby is discharged, he will have his eyes checked for prematurity-related problems. If a baby is in the nursery for a long time, his eyes will first be checked at 5 to 6 weeks of age. To examine the baby's eyes, a series of eye drops are placed in his eyes to pen the pupils so the eye doctor can see inside. A sterile intrument is placed on the eye to hold it still (Emily hasn't had that). Although it looks uncomfortable and the baby cries (Emily has been known to throw up!), it doesn't injure the baby. This examination is important because one third of all premature infants develop an eye problem called ROP (see other post).
Apnea Screen
A sleep study is ordered when a baby is almost ready to go home. It is usually done on all infants who where less then 35 weeks gestational age or who have an apnea problem (stoppage of breathing). It is very similar to the monitor the baby is on now. The study is run for 12 hours and records on paper the baby's heart and breathing rates. Results of this test will let the baby's doctor know if he needs to go home on a monitor.
Premature babies are more likely to have hearing problems then full term infants. A hearing screen is very important in babies because hearing loss may be treated. Untreated, the baby's learning and development will be delayed.
A special test called a Brainstem Auditory Evokes Response (BAER) is often used to check a baby's hearing before six months of age. For this test, monitor pads (like the heart rate leads) are placed on the baby's scalp. He listens to clicks at different volumes through earphones while he is quite or asleep. The information is recorded by a computer and is used to see how the brain responded to the sounds. This test is more accurate as the baby matures, so sometimes a baby my need to have this test repeated when he is between three and six months of age (corrected). An abnormal test does not always mean a baby is deaf or has serious hearing problem. It means we need to follow him until he is old enough to be tested more accurately.
Eye Exam
Before a baby is discharged, he will have his eyes checked for prematurity-related problems. If a baby is in the nursery for a long time, his eyes will first be checked at 5 to 6 weeks of age. To examine the baby's eyes, a series of eye drops are placed in his eyes to pen the pupils so the eye doctor can see inside. A sterile intrument is placed on the eye to hold it still (Emily hasn't had that). Although it looks uncomfortable and the baby cries (Emily has been known to throw up!), it doesn't injure the baby. This examination is important because one third of all premature infants develop an eye problem called ROP (see other post).
Apnea Screen
A sleep study is ordered when a baby is almost ready to go home. It is usually done on all infants who where less then 35 weeks gestational age or who have an apnea problem (stoppage of breathing). It is very similar to the monitor the baby is on now. The study is run for 12 hours and records on paper the baby's heart and breathing rates. Results of this test will let the baby's doctor know if he needs to go home on a monitor.
posted by JenninNJ @ 6:31 AM
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