Babies learn from the time they are born. One of the ways they learn is through hearing. If they have problems with hearing and do not receive the right treatment and early intervention services, babies will have trouble with speech and language development. Timing is everything. Your baby will have the best chance for normal language development if any hearing loss is discovered and treatment begins by the age of 6 months – and the earlier, the better. The screening is a painless short procedure that detects hearing loss in newborns. The test is done after your baby has been fed while they sleep. The test can also be administered during feeding.