Sammanfattning
In Denmark, all parents are offered a screening of their newborn infant for hearing loss, which
amounts to upwards of 60,000 screenings annually. The screening is performed primarily by nurses
and midwives, who, in addition to performing the hearing test itself, have to handle the parents'
emotional response to having their child screened, information about the test, and disruption to the
child-parent relationship.
Method: The design was a qualitative study involving audio recordings and transcriptions of 15
semi-structured interviews with first-time parents at Aarhus University Hospital. The interviews were
conducted immediately before and after hearing screening of the infant.
Results: Parents have a positive attitude to allowing their child to be screened without reflecting on
the fact that hearing screening is an optional service. The parents report neither dissatisfaction nor
anxiety, although the level of information varies. They are not anxious before the hearing screening,
yet still express relief when the screening is over without the result being referral to a specialist.
Conclusion: Parents have a positive attitude to hearing screening, regard the level of information
provided as adequate, and the screening as a standard test.