Auditory Brainstem Response (ABR) Testing in Babies
- Introduction, scope and audience
➡️Introduction
Effective and consistent hearing measurement in babies is important for early intervention. Auditory Brain Response (ABR) is used to identify an accurate estimate of hearing thresholds at different frequencies. It is important to ensure good quality recordings of ABR waveforms which are obtained using earphones, inserts and bone-conduction transducers. As universal hearing screening is being implemented in EGYPT, there is a growing need to unify testing parameters and improve data reporting.
These guidelines are for the use of ABR in assessing hearing in babies up to a corrected age of 12 weeks These guidelines aim at the achievement of the uniformity of the equipment set up, improvement in test performance and waveform interpretation. Frequency-specific information is required. It aims to define criteria by which to identity a ‘clear response’, ‘response absent’ or ‘inconclusive’ response when performing ABR testing in babies.
➡️Target audience:
Audiologists for proper performance and interpretation of ABR. ENT specialists for proper interpretation of ABR results.