HIGH tech hearing tests which will help identify deafness in new born babies are to be launched in Wiltshire.

Wiltshire and Swindon Healthcare Trust is among 20 pilot sites nationwide that has been picked to prepare for the new hearing test that will help detect hearing problems in the first days of life.

The new scheme, called the Newborn Hearing Screening Programme (NHSP), will be carried out by health visitors and will replace the current distraction hearing test which is done when the baby is seven to nine months old.

The new test involves placing a soft probe in the baby's ears while they are quiet. A purring-like sound is made and a microphone picks up an "echo" from the ear. The test is quick and painless and has a very high accuracy rate.

"About one baby in a thousand is born deaf.

"Identifying the deafness in the neonatal period provides the opportunity for them to get the specialist help and care they need as early as possible.

"Early identification provides significantly better language and social outcomes. This scheme will benefit children, parents and health staff," said Wiltshire Director of Public Health Professor Philip Milner.