Family Resources
What are the different hearing tests?

An audiogram is a graph or chart that displays the results of your child's hearing test.

The NBHS is conducted at birth to identify children who may have a hearing loss and need further testing. There are two screening methods used; Otoacoustic Emissions (OAE) and Automated Auditory Brainstem Response (A-ABR). Both methods are quick and simple methods that don't require a behavioral response.

Auditory Brainstem Response (ABR) or Brainstem Auditory Evoked Response (BAER) is a test that checks the brain’s response to sound. The test does not rely on a baby's response. The baby needs to be sound asleep or at a minimum very tranquil and not moving, so the brain response to very soft sound can be detected. If your child is younger than 6 months of age, the ABR test usually can be done while he or she naps, most often after feeding.

Otoacoustic Emissions (OAE) is a test that checks the inner ear's response to sound. The test does not rely on a baby's behavioral response. The baby needs to be asleep or very quiet so the response from the inner ear can be detected.

Tympanometry is a test that determines whether the middle ear and ear drum is working properly. It can effectively identify ear infections and fluid in the middle ear, which are common conditions in young children.

This is a type of hearing test that rewards a listening response by showing an automated puppet, moving toy or short displays of a cartoon on a computer screen. The child must be awake and able to actively respond to sounds heard during the test.

Conditioned Play Audiometry (CPA) is a hearing test in which the pediatric audiologist teaches the child to respond when a sound is heard by playing a game. Example: child is instructed to put a peg in a hole or block in a bucket every time they hear a sound.