My twin boys were born at thirty three weeks. They spent a month in the NICU. Before discharge, the hospital did a newborn hearing screening. Both twins showed “refer” in both ears. The doctor said premature babies often have fluid, but we needed to follow up. He recommended both an ABR test and an ASSR test. I had never heard of either. I was terrified. But the tests turned out to be painless and gave us the complete picture we needed.
What Is an ABR Test
An ABR test measures how the hearing nerve and the brain respond to sound. Small electrodes are placed on the baby’s head and behind the ears. Soft earphones play clicking sounds. The electrodes record the electrical activity. The test does not require the baby to do anything. The baby should be asleep.
The ABR test tells the doctor whether the baby can hear sound at all and roughly how loud the sound needs to be. It is a good screening test.
What Is an ASSR Test
An ASSR test is similar but more detailed. It uses pure tone sounds at different frequencies and different volumes. The computer analyzes how the brain responds to each specific tone. The ASSR test can tell you exactly how much hearing loss the baby has at low, middle, and high frequencies. This information is critical for fitting a hearing aid if one is needed.
The ABR test tells you if there is a problem. The ASSR test tells you exactly what the problem is. Together, they give a complete picture.
Our Experience
We took the twins to an audiology clinic when they were three months old. The audiologist asked us to keep them awake for four hours before the appointment so they would be tired and sleep. With twins, that was a challenge. But we managed.
The ABR test was done first, then the ASSR test. The whole appointment took about two hours for both babies. They slept through most of it. The results showed that Twin A had normal hearing. Twin B had mild to moderate hearing loss in both ears. The ASSR test gave us the exact frequencies he was missing.
What the Tests Meant for Us
Because of the ABR and ASSR tests, we knew exactly what was happening with Twin B’s hearing. He got hearing aids at six months old. He is now three years old. His speech is delayed but improving. Early detection made all the difference.
If your baby fails the newborn screening, do not panic. But do not ignore it. Ask your doctor about an ABR test and an ASSR test. Both are safe, painless, and can be done while your baby sleeps. They gave us the answers we needed to help our son. They can do the same for your child.
An ASSR test is similar but more detailed. It uses pure tone sounds at different frequencies and different volumes. The computer analyzes how the brain responds to each specific tone. The ASSR test can tell you exactly how much hearing loss the baby has at low, middle, and high frequencies. This information is critical for fitting a hearing aid if one is needed.
