She was among the first to be screened for hearing problems, a technique that is now available for all babies born in the twin cities.

Mum Laurene was relieved to hear that everything's in working order.

The Wesley officially joined other hospitals in an official Queensland Health program yesterday after training for staff commenced in August.

Wesley's nurse unit manager Helen Coxhead said about 30 to 40 babies a month would be screened at the hospital.

"It is a very good thing," Ms Coxhead said yesterday.

"Hearing is so important for a baby's language development.

"If you can identify a baby with problems before six months of age it makes a huge difference to their development."

She said babies could be treated by an audiologist within two to four weeks and, if necessary, fitted with hearing aids before six months of age.

The Healthy Hearing Program aims to detect hearing loss by three months of age and to ensure families have access to early intervention services.

The program began at the Townsville Hospital last October and has been implemented in 11 public hospitals throughout Queensland.

Healthy Hearing private hospitals co-ordinator Julie Thompson said Queensland was on target to screen the hearing of all babies born by the end of 2006.

Each year as many as 300 babies are born in Queensland with hearing impairment and many show no signs of the problem.

Source: http://townsvillebulletin.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,7034,16953249%255E14787,00.html