Diagnostic Services
The Division of Audiology at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center has established a number of evaluation and testing services to help effectively diagnose your child.
Auditory Brainstem Response (ABR) Evaluation
The Auditory Brainstem Response (ABR) Evaluation is a way to measure how well each ear can pick up sounds and how well the hearing nerve sends the information to the brain. The test does not require participation from the child. It is commonly done on infants and small children, or anyone who cannot or will not cooperate with routine testing.
Children will need to be asleep for the test. You can help us by not allowing your child to sleep during the 2- to 4-hour period preceding the test.
Here's What to Expect During the Evaluation
- Your child may be held in your arms or may rest on a bed during testing.
- If your child is 6 months of age or older, he / she will be weighed and may be given a mild medicine by mouth to make him / her sleepy. The medication will be administered by a registered nurse.
- The skin on the forehead and behind each ear will be gently cleaned off and small disposable sensors will be placed on those areas. The sensors will then be attached to a special computer.
- Once your child is asleep, small earphones will be placed in the ears.
- Sounds will be presented through the earphones.
- Brainwave activity will be obtained using the computer.
- These waveforms are then analyzed to determine whether or not the ears are detecting the sounds.
When the test is finished, your child will be awakened. The audiologist will discuss the test results and any necessary recommendations.
Otoacoustic Emissions (OAE) Testing
Otoacoustic Emissions (OAE) Testing is a way to measure inner ear function. This test does not require that children tell or show that sounds are heard. Therefore, this test may be used to screen an infant's hearing or done on anyone who cannot or will not cooperate with routine testing.
How the Test Works
- A small probe is inserted into the ear canal.
- A series of clicks or tones are presented.
- Otoacoustic emissions are "echoes" emitted by the cochlea (organ of hearing) in response to those sounds.
- The "echo" is measured with the probe in the ear canal.
Behavioral Testing
Ages 6 months to 2 years: Your child is trained to listen to sounds with use of animated toys. When your child turns his / her head in the direction of a sound, he / she is rewarded with the lighted toys.
Ages 2 to 4 years: Your child is taught to play a game in response to sounds. For example, your child is taught to put an object in a specific place when a sound is heard (e.g., place a peg into a pegboard, throw a ball into a bucket).
Ages 4 years and older: Your child is taught to raise his / her hand or press a response button upon hearing a sound.
