How do we screen hearing in babies? source: © 2005 Canadian Academy of Audiology - Académie Canadienne d'Audiologie

Several screening tests are now available to screen the hearing of infants. Studies have shown that any one or a combination of these tests can be successfully used in UNIVERSAL NEWBORN HEARING SREENING programs. The tests are accurate as well as rapid, inexpensive and non-invasive. The equipment is fully automated and yields a simple pass/refer outcome. This screening is not painful in any way to the baby and most of them sleep through it.

The first one is called the Otoacoustic Emissions test (OAE).

This test involve that a small soft tipped ear-piece is place in the outer part of the baby ear which sends sounds down the ear. When an ear receives sound, the inner part, known as the cochlea, usually produces an echo. Using a computer, the screener can see how your baby's ears respond to sound.

The second one is called Automatic Auditory Brainstem Response (AABR)

Tiny cups are placed around the baby's ears. Three tiny sensors are placed on the baby's head using a jelly- like substance. The machine makes a soft clicking sound. As your baby listens to the sounds through the ear cups, the sensors record and measure how the baby's brain responds to the clicks.