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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.