The ABR measurement provides information on the degree, type, and configuration of a hearing loss and allows the audiologist to fit an infant with a hearing aid when needed. ABR should include Clicks, Tone bursts, and Bone Conduction testing.
It is the most critical procedure in the initial test battery because it is an accurate and reliable predictor of hearing loss in infants who are too young to respond to behavioral testing. Auditory Brainstem Response (ABR)ĪBR testing is an electrophysiological measurement that allows the audiologist to obtain information about the condition of the inner ear and/or auditory nerve. This information helps the audiologist determine if there are any pre, peri- or postnatal conditions that would indicate the infant is at increased risk for a progressive or late-onset hearing loss.
The audiologist will collect information about family history of hearing loss, conditions that occurred during pregnancy including maternal illnesses, complications that occurred during labor or delivery, and time the infant spent in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). Key Components in a Diagnostic Audiological Evaluation of Infants and Children Case History Documentation The audiologist performs a series of tests, described below, to determine if a hearing loss exists, and, if so, the type (part of the auditory system affected), degree (how much hearing loss exists) and configuration (frequencies or pitches that are affected) of the loss. A pediatric audiologist is a professional with a master's or doctoral degree in Audiology and the technical expertise and desire to work with infants and children. The diagnostic evaluation is performed by a pediatric audiologist. A baby identified with a hearing loss should be fit with hearing aids (if appropriate) and enrolled in an early intervention program well before 6 months of age. The initial diagnostic tests must be completed as soon as possible so that any potential hearing loss can be diagnosed before 3 months of age.
If a baby does not pass the newborn screening, the next step is Diagnostic Audiology. Ideally, the newborn screening is completed before a baby is 1 month of age. When infants with hearing loss receive timely and appropriate diagnostic and intervention services, they have positive speech, language and listening outcomes.
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