What is an auditory brainstem response (ABR) evaluation?

An auditory brainstem response (ABR) evaluation is a test that allows an audiologist to measure your child’s hearing sensitivity. It is typically recommended for children who cannot be tested using a conventional hearing test or for children for whom more information is needed. Your child must be in a deep sleep during the test. Any movement, such as sucking or eye blinking will interfere with the audiologist’s ability to interpret responses and complete testing. For this reason, ABR testing on children over approximately six months of age may be completed using sedation or general anesthesia. After reviewing your child’s medical history, a medical team will determine a plan for sedation. Your child’s evaluation will be scheduled in a Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) sedation unit or an operating room (OR). 

About an Auditory Brainstem Response (ABR) evaluation performed in CHOP’s Sedation Unit

In the days prior to your appointment, you should expect to receive a phone call from a nurse to give you instructions, explain the sedation procedure and answer any questions you may have about sedation. Your audiologist may recommend that your child be seen before or on the day of the evaluation by an Otolaryngologist, a doctor who specializes in the ears, nose and throat. On the day of your visit, you should plan to be at CHOP for up to five hours. When you arrive to the Department of Audiology, the audiologist may first perform a few tests to make sure there is nothing that will impact ABR test results (e.g., wax in the ear canal, middle ear fluid). The audiologist will then take you and your child to the Sedation Unit. Here, a doctor or nurse practitioner will examine your child, and determine the best medical plan to insure they sleep for the test. After your child has been given sedation medicine, the skin on their forehead and behind each ear will be cleaned and three small sticker sensors will be placed. Small foam earphones will be placed in the ears and the sensors will be attached to the audiologist’s computer. Sounds will be played through the earphones and the computer will record the hearing nerve’s response to the sounds in each ear. The audiologist will interpret all results and when testing is completed, explain all of the findings to you and provide you with any additional recommendations and resources. Your child may wake up on his own during this time, or they may need to sleep a bit longer. The medical staff will evaluate your child before you leave your visit and will provide instructions.   

About an Auditory Brainstem Response (ABR) evaluation performed in CHOP’s Operating Room

In the days/weeks prior to your appointment, you will speak or meet with someone to discuss the anesthesia procedure and answer any questions you may have. You should receive a call the day before your visit giving you instructions on what time and where to arrive.  Your audiologist may recommend that your child be seen before the day of the evaluation by an Otolaryngologist and your child will be seen by an Otolaryngologist as part of the ABR visit. After your child is asleep, the audiologist will clean the skin on his/her forehead and behind each ear and place three, small sticker sensors on these areas. Small foam earphones will be placed in your child’s ears and the sensors will be attached to the audiologist’s computer. Sounds will be played through the earphones and the computer will record the hearing nerve’s response to the sounds in each ear the audiologist will interpret all results and when testing is completed, explain all of the findings to you and provide you with any additional recommendations and resources. The medical staff will evaluate your child before you leave your visit and will provide instructions.

If you have any questions about your child’s upcoming appointment, please contact 800-551-5480 to speak to an audiologist.