Screening tests are done shortly after birth to detect important metabolic diseases and other conditions. Once detected, these
diseases can be treated, and hopefully complications can be prevented.
Newborn screening programmes are frequently the responsibility of local health authorities, and therefore, differ from one
geographical region to another. All programmes screen for the metabolic disorder, phenylketonuria, and congenital hypothyroidism.
Many regions screen for additional conditions, including organic acid disorders, fatty acid oxidation disorders, aminoacid
disorders, hemoglobinopathies, and endocrine abnormalities. Your health care provider can inform you which conditions are
screened at birth in your geographical region.
Some newborn babies are at risk of being born with hearing loss. These include premature and low birth weight babies, babies
with a family history of hearing loss, babies who have certain facial birth defects, and those who were affected by certain
infections during pregnancy. In many countries, hearing screening is offered in hospitals and community centres to all newborn
babies to ensure they hear well.
Chances are that these screening tests will show that your newborn baby is in good health. However, if these or other tests
show that there is a medical problem, he may need to be transferred to a special nursery where a paediatrician will look after
your baby. If the problem is more serious, your newborn baby might be transferred to a hospital with a neonatal intensive
care unit (NICU) with paediatricians called neonatologists who specialize in the care of newborn babies. They will take care
of your newborn baby and do the best they can to improve his health.
