Newborn Screening

Newborn screening

Newborn screening is done shortly after birth to test for rare but treatable diseases. Early detection of these diseases prevents serious health problems and can save lives. This screening is offered to every baby in Ontario.

There are two parts to the screening:

• A blood test to screen for 33 rare-but-treatable diseases
• A quick and painless test that measures your baby's blood oxygen level to screen for certain heart conditions

The diseases that are screened for can cause serious health problems if left untreated.  

A positive screening test tells us that it is possible that your baby has one of these rare diseases, but more tests are needed to find out for sure. Your baby will be referred to a regional treatment centre to have those tests.

It is strongly recommended that all babies are screened for these diseases before leaving the hospital. While our practice is to routinely screen every baby, screening is not mandatory. You can tell your health-care team if you want to decline the screening for your baby.

Please talk with a health-care provider about newborn screening if you have any questions or concerns. Newborn screening is the only way to find these diseases in babies early enough to prevent serious, long-term health problems.

For more information on newborn screening, please visit Newborn Screening Ontario.  

Infant hearing screening

Hearing is important for children to learn language skills. A small number of babies are born with hearing loss, and others may develop it at a later time.

Hearing loss can cause delays in learning to talk and lead to behavioural and emotional problems, and problems at school. The sooner hearing loss is identified, the better it is for a child’s development.

We offer hearing screening to all infants before they leave the hospital. You can also have infant hearing screening done in other locations in your community. It is recommended that all babies have hearing screening within the first month and up to two months old.

During the screening, an infant hearing screener will test your baby's hearing in a quiet space using a small earphone. The screener will measure the brain's response to sounds in each ear.  

If the test shows that more detailed testing is needed, you will be referred to an audiologist for more tests and a full assessment. If your baby has hearing loss, the audiologist will work with you to find treatments and services to fit your baby's needs.

For more information on the infant hearing screen program, please visit the Infant Hearing Program.