Hearing test mandatory for UAE newborns

The UAE intends to issue new law making hearing tests for newborn babies mandatory to allow for early detection of any ear problem for better treatment.

The Ministry of Health has presented the draft law to the cabinet for endorsement within a strategy to protect public health in the country.

“Parents now have the choice to have hearing tests for their babies but once the new law is issued, this test will be mandatory,” said Dr Hussein Abdul Rahman, the Ministry’s assistant undersecretary for medical centres and clinics.

He told the 'Emarat Al Youm' Arabic language daily that late detection of hearing problems affects the infant’s hearing ability and makes treatment more difficult, adding that such a problem would adversely affect the pupil’s performance at school.

He noted that newborns are currently subject to mandatory blood tests and that hearing tests would be added to these tests soon.