The diagnostic equipment was purchased by the auxiliary for $30,000 and means parents no longer have to travel to Hobart if their child requires testing.

The discipline lead for the state wide hearing service, Lee Kethel, said the donation would make a big difference to Launceston families. 

"We have had this equipment in the north before, but after it became unusable that was just an extra $25,000 to replace it that we didn't have,” she said. 

"It is already a stressful time for parents and add onto that having to deal with their child's potential hearing loss. 

“Travel was just an extra stress on parents that has now been removed.”

Ms Kethel said the issue was also made more complicated by the nature of the screenings, which are carried out over four stages.

This includes the third stage diagnostic process which can take up to two hours to complete and often requires more than one appointment. 

Since infant screening started at the LGH in 2006 more than 18,000 babies have been tested with 250 referred for the diagnostic test. 

Of those, 17 babies were diagnosed with permanent hearing loss while a further 100 were found to have medically treatable hearing loss.

Studies show that children with untreated hearing loss are likely to experience delayed language, speech development and communication. 

It has also been linked to low self-esteem, learning difficulties and behavioral problems. 

Ms Kethel said that hearing loss was the most frequent birth defect and that the key to diagnosis was in the timing. 

“There are dramatic benefits associated with early identification of hearing loss and early intervention,” she said.

“Fortunately this new equipment is also much faster and more advanced so I think it will make a big differences to families going through what can be a very difficult time.”