What is an ABR test?

Your infant or child has been referred for an auditory brain stem response, or ABR, hearing test by their physician or by an audiologist who has performed hearing screening in the nursery. Auditory brain stem response testing is a painless and harmless test involving the measurement of electric responses recorded from the hearing nerves and brain by means of small, disk-like electrodes taped behind each ear and on the forehead.

How is the test performed?

Small foam-tipped earphones will be positioned in your child's ears for delivery of sounds. It is preferable and more reliable to perform this test while your child is asleep. For that purpose, some children need to be sedated, usually with oral medication that will be administered by a registered nurse. If sedation is required, your appointment will also include a medical evaluation prior to the auditory brain stem response hearing test. Whether your child will or will not be sedated for the purpose of this test, you can help us by not allowing your child to sleep during the 2 to 4 hour period preceding the test. This test is performed in a semi-dark, soundproof room. Your child may be held in your arms or will be laying on a cot during testing. The test will be administered by a certified clinical audiologist. After preparing your child with the recording electrodes and earphones, the audiologist will conduct the test using a computer that is outside the room. The audiologist will record and monitor responses first on the screen of the computer, and later will print out the tracings. These tracing can accurately tell us your child's hearing sensitivity. If the results of the test suggest some degree of hearing loss, you may be referred for further testing.

What can I do to make my child comfortable?

You may wish to bring a favorite blanket or toy as well as one or two bottles filled with a clear liquid-type beverage such as juice. Please be prepared to spend at least one-half day at the clinic for purposes of this test.