Auditory Brainstem Response Test

I just got back from Little Girl A’s ear doctor appointment.  She had a bloody granuloma (mass of puss) in her left ear last month that had to be cleaned out.  Today was just a checkup.  Both ear tubes are clogged with wax, so for the next two weeks, we are to put hydrogen peroxide in her ears twice a day and see him back in a month.

While I was there, I asked him about this “sedated hearing test” that Hannah has to go through next month since the genetics doctor didn’t even give me any details other than having Audiology call to set up an appointment (bitter?  No, not me.)

It is called an Auditory Brainstem Response Test (or ABR).  The picture on the left is NOT Hannah, just an image of what the test setup looks like.

Details from the test are below.  Basically, he said that they are using this test to create a baseline of Hannah’s nerve conductions to her ears to be able to follow her hearing patterns and look for hearing loss to compare against future ABRs to see if there is degredation in her hearing (type 3).  I’m so glad SOMEONE was willing to explain it to me, even if it wasn’t one of Hannah’s doctors!

 Auditory Brain Stem Response Testing for Infants and Children

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.