Survey
* Your assessment is very important for improving the workof artificial intelligence, which forms the content of this project
* Your assessment is very important for improving the workof artificial intelligence, which forms the content of this project
Baby’s Hearing Screening Tests 1. Otoacoustic Emission test ( OAE ) As part of the Universal Newborn Hearing Screening program at Kerry General Hospital, all babies born in this hospital are given a hearing screening using this test. The OAE test works on the principle that a healthy cochlea (inner ear) will produce a faint echo when stimulated with sound. A small ear-piece, containing a speaker and a microphone, is placed in the baby’s ear. A clicking sound is played and if the cochlea is functioning properly the ear-piece will pick up the echo. This is recorded on a computer that tells the screener if the baby needs to be referred for a further screening test. If the test records strong responses from the baby’s ear then they will not need any further tests. The screening test is very quick and gives the result immediately. Being referred for further a screening test doesn’t necessarily mean that the baby has a hearing loss. It can be difficult to get a response if the baby was unsettled at the time of the test, if the room was noisy or if there is any fluid in the ear from the birth process. The test is usually repeated before referral for the second type of screening test. The vast majority of babies will show strong responses to the OAE screening test. Around 15% will be referred for the ABR screening test. 2. Auditory Brainstem Response (ABR) test Auditory brainstem 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. 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 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 qualified Clinical Audiologist. After preparing your child with the recording electrodes and earphones, the audiologist will conduct the test using a computer 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. Around 3% of babies will go on to be referred for a full Diagnostic Assessment of the hearing. How you can help as a parent You may wish to bring a favourite blanket or toy as well as one or two bottles filled with water/ juice or milk . In case you are breast feeding the child this may not be necessary. Please be prepared to spend at least one-half day at the clinic for purposes of this test. Your child’s hair should be washed the morning of the test; please do not apply any creams, ointments or oils. You can also help us by not allowing your child to sleep during the 2 to 4 hour period preceding the test. Depriving your child of their nap improves the likelihood that your child will sleep during the testing or On the day of the test, awaken your child early and eliminate naps prior to the test. Schedule your child’s appointment near their routine nap time. Do not feed until right before the appointment time. A full stomach will help your child sleep for the procedure. It can be difficult not to allow your child to sleep or eat, however, it is very important for the success of the procedure and allows the Audiologist to obtain the most reliable results.