Over 200,000 newborn babies have been tested for hearing problems since universal hearing screening was introduced by the HSE in 2011.

The newborn hearing screening programme was introduced on a phased basis in April 2011, but is now available in all maternity hospitals nationwide. Around 6,000 babies are screened every month.

Currently in Ireland, one to two babies in every 1,000 are born with a hearing loss in one or both ears. Of these, 3% - around 180 babies - are referred on to the HSE Audiology Service for further tests. Around nine of these babies will be diagnosed with a permanent hearing loss.

The vast majority of babies diagnosed with a permanent hearing loss are born into families with no history or experience of childhood deafness. Furthermore, around half of those with some hearing loss are also born into families with no prior risks - this is why newborn screening is carried out on a universal basis.

"The test is provided free of charge usually before leaving the hospital when the baby is settled or asleep at the mother's bedside. It is carried out by a trained hearing screener and only takes a few minutes. It does not hurt the baby and the results of the hearing screen are available immediately," the HSE explained.

The hearing screener places a small earpiece into the outer part of the baby's ear, which sends clicking sounds down the ear. When the ear receives sound, the inner part - the cochlea - produces an echo which can be picked up by special screening equipment.

Babies who do not produce a clear response in one or both ears will be sent an appointment for an audiology clinic, normally within four weeks of referral.

Commenting on the screening programme, Dr Gary Norman, national clinical lead for audiology, emphasised the importance of early detection of hearing problems.

"The screening programme aims to identify hearing impairment as soon as possible after birth. The earlier a hearing loss can be picked up in a baby, with timely access to high quality early intervention, the better outcome that baby will have in terms of developing speech and language skills, as well as developing social and emotional interactions from an early age," he noted.

For more information on the hearing screening programme, click here