The auditory brain stem response (ABR) test is another hearing loss test used on infants and young children.

Sean was only 36 hours old, and as this 8 pound, 6 ounce infant slept, his hearing was being tested. The test used what looked like your ordinary personal computer with unusual wires attached which the lady audiologist brought Sean's bassinet over to. The audiologist then hit a few buttons on the keypad and gently inserted a tiny probe into the baby's ear, which led to the computer by one of these wires. The picture on the screen was quickly replaced with an intricate graphic display.

I visited this research institute that focused on hearing to see this procedure, which can allow children with hearing issues to have a head start on the problems that they will encounter in life. There are around 4000 babies each year who are born deaf, then there are another 24,000 born who suffer some kind of hearing loss. This particular procedure is known as an OAE (otoacoustic emissions) test, which is used to gather data for parents and doctors regarding the ability of their newborn to hear, and subsequently attempt to correct or mitigate the effects of this potential disability.

An existing hearing problem has commonly gone undetected until children have reached the age of 2 or 3 before it has been realized by their parents or doctors. If the problem is allowed to exist unchecked, there can be serious consequences. Learning language and how to speak can be delayed by hearing problems. Children suffering from hearing loss often start speaking long after their peers, and they often seem separate from their environment in a way that kids with normal hearing are not. Research shows us that the first two years of life are essential for building the skills necessary to develop intellectually and emotionally. There are some kids with hearing conditions who are diagnosed incorrectly, even as mentally handicapped.

Prior to 1990, when OAE became widely available, testing newborns was an expensive and complicated undertaking. According to audiologists, there are other very accurate tests which are called ABSR or auditory brain stem response. The auditory nerve is observed by electrodes attached to the infant and measure the activity of the nerve as it travels to the child's brain. However, this complex 30-minute evaluation is priced at $90.00 (minimum charge), necessitating the conduct of a professionally licensed doctor or audiologist. There aren't enough audiologists or physicians in the country to conduct this test on every newborn.

OAE tests, on the other hand, are inexpensive and do not need to be given by physicians or audiologists. This test measures the vibration of the small hair cells in the cochlea when they are exposed to sound, and takes a total of five minutes. In Sean's case, the probe delivered sound into his ear, and when his hair cells vibrated in reaction to the sound, the microphone was able to detect it. After the test was administered on one side the audiologist shifted the baby to his other side to repeat the procedure, looking pleased with the results she was seeing. Baby Sean was lucky enough to be born with nearly perfect hearing.

When the first test is not passed, another test is scheduled for the following week. One reason an infant may fail the initial hearing test is that there can be fluid found in the ear canal. An auditory brain stem response test is used in the event that a baby does not pass the second hearing test, this helps to target the problem area. Possible courses of action are then discussed between the baby's parents, pediatrician, and audiologist.

Newborns who experience minimal hearing loss have the option open to them to get fitted for a hearing aid as early as three months old. In these cases a hearing aid may be the only thing needed to correct the issue. By a year-and-a-half, the child can receive a cochlear implant, which is a surgical procedure which can help to correct hearing deficiencies for their entire life.

Should a baby suffer from serious hearing loss, it is suggested that parents pay special attention to teaching their child using plenty of visual clues. As long as the parents are devoted to spending time with the child and do things correctly, there should be no problem with their development. A parent must also decide how to help their child cope with hearing loss, and there are many options to choose from, such as the use of a hearing aid or cues speech, lip-reading, and sign language.

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