Celebrating two decades of newborn hearing screening
By Nikki Clark, Assistant Director, Children's Specialist services

This December marks 20 years since the newborn hearing screening programme began in west Kent and Medway, a milestone for a service that has transformed early detection of hearing loss in babies.

A look back: From the 1960s to today

Hearing screening for children in the UK started in the early 1960s with the Health Visitor Distraction Test (HVDT). By the 1970s, concerns grew about its effectiveness—many infants were missed, and the test was costly to run. It also relied on babies being old enough and physically strong enough to turn toward a sound, which delayed detection.

In 1997, Professors Davis and Bamford highlighted these shortcomings in a Health Technology Assessment Review, showing HVDT identified only a small percentage of infants with permanent hearing impairment.

The shift to newborn screening

By the 1980s, new techniques, such as automated auditory brainstem response and otoacoustic emissions, enabled accurate screening of newborns. These methods were not only more reliable but also more cost-effective. Based on this evidence, the UK National Screening Committee recommended introducing newborn hearing screening nationwide.

On 5 December 2005, the newborn hearing screening programme in west Kent and Medway began.

The team behind the success

Our dedicated team of 16 includes 13 screeners, two senior screeners and a team coordinator, working across three hospital sites: Tunbridge Wells, Darent Valley and Medway Maritime.

Each year, they screen 15,000 babies, identifying between one and two in every 1,000 with moderate to profound hearing loss in one or both ears.

Making a lasting impact

This small but mighty team approaches every challenge with positivity and initiative. Their work makes sure children with permanent hearing loss are identified early, giving them the best possible start in life. Their dedication truly makes a difference.