Where to Get Newborn Hearing Screening in Northern Cyprus (TRNC)?
Where, when and how should a newborn hearing screening be done in Northern Cyprus (TRNC)? Public hospital or a hearing centre? What to do if the result is a 'refer', a practical Cyprus-specific guide for parents.
A newborn hearing screening in Northern Cyprus (TRNC) is a routine, painless check that should ideally happen within the first days after birth, just as in most of the world. Around 3 in every 1000 babies are born with hearing loss, even without any family history, so skipping the screening because "the baby reacts to sounds" is not a safe assumption.
Where is newborn hearing screening done in Cyprus?
Families in the TRNC typically follow one of two paths:
- At the hospital where the baby was born: A basic hearing screening can often be carried out before discharge or in the first days after birth, the most practical way to start the process without a separate appointment.
- At an independent hearing centre: If the hospital screening was missed, delayed, or a second opinion is needed, the baby can be brought directly to a hearing centre. At our centre in Iskele, we perform this screening with AABR, using a small, portable device, in a quiet setting timed to the baby's natural sleep. We use AABR rather than OAE because it screens the entire auditory pathway from the ear to the brain, not just the inner ear, giving a more reliable result.
Whichever path is taken, the important thing is that the screening is not skipped and, ideally, completed within the first month of life.
When should you act? The 1-3-6 rule
Early hearing detection and intervention programmes recommend the following internationally recognised timeline:
- 1 month: Hearing screening should be completed.
- 3 months: If the result was uncertain or "refer", a full diagnostic audiological evaluation should be completed.
- 6 months: If a hearing loss is confirmed, hearing aid fitting or another intervention should have started.
Keeping to this timeline protects the critical window for speech and language development.
Got a "refer" result? Should you worry?
Not necessarily. A "refer" result on a newborn screening is not a diagnosis by itself: fluid in the ear canal, post-birth swelling, or movement during the test can all affect the result. What matters is not ignoring it, and completing the recommended diagnostic evaluation on time. We cover this in more detail in what happens if a newborn fails the screening, and you can read about the method we use in our AABR test and the general process in newborn hearing screening.
Next step for your baby in Iskele
If your baby has not yet been screened, the result was uncertain, or you would like a second opinion, our centre in Iskele offers screening and diagnostic evaluation for families across the TRNC in a baby-friendly setting. Call us to learn more about the process and book an appointment.