Auditory-Brain Stem Response Testing for Adults

Hearing problems may be caused by a variety of problems affecting one or more components of the auditory, or hearing, system that begins with the outer ear and ends with specialized parts of the brain. At times, a hearing loss may be caused by a benign tumor arising near the hearing nerve or by loss of the special layer of insulation that normally covers the nerve.

What is the ABR test?

The auditory brain stem response, or ABR, is a test used to diagnose or rule out such problems. If you have hearing loss affecting only one ear, or hearing loss that is more pronounced in one ear or the other, your physician may suspect a problem involving the hearing nerve and has therefore referred you for an auditory brain stem response test.

How is the test performed?

This is a painless, non-invasive test involving the attachment of skin recording electrodes to your ear lobes, forehead, and possibly scalp. It also involves the placement of small foam-tipped earphones into each ear. This test will be conducted in a semi-dark, soundproof room by a certified clinical audiologist. During the test, you will hear moderately loud clicking and, at times, hissing sounds delivered to your ears. The audiologist will be recording and watching the electrical responses generated by your hearing nerves and brain in response to these clicking sounds. These responses appear like traces, first on the screen of a computer, later on a printout. Based on the shape and timing of the various portions of these traces, the audiologist will be able to determine the condition of your hearing nerves and other nervous system components that are responsible for hearing. If the results of the test are considered to be abnormal, you may be referred by your physician for additional tests.