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Since it is important to have your baby's hearing tested as soon as possible, one of the best times to do it is right after birth, before your baby even leaves the hospital. Most (but not all) states have enacted legislation that requires hospitals to test all newborn babies’ hearing before they are discharged from the hospital.  However, even with this new legislation, not all children are automatically screened.  To find out about the practice in your state, look at the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association web site at http://professional.asha.org/resources/legislative/ehdi.cfm. 

A pediatric audiologist who specializes in evaluating and assisting infants and children with hearing loss will give the test.  The tests are painless and can usually be done while your baby sleeps.

Hearing screenings on average cost about $30 per child and take about nine minutes. The National Center for Hearing Assessment and Management at Utah State University has a web site that tells you whether or not your insurance or Medicaid is required to pay for the hearing screening in your state: http://www.infanthearing.org/legislative/provisions/coveredbenefit.html.