What is an Auditory Brainstem Response Evaluation (ABR)?
An auditory brainstem response evaluation (ABR) is a test that evaluates how well sounds travel along the hearing nerve from the ear to the brainstem. ABR assesses electrical activity from the auditory nerve and the auditory pathway in the lower part of the brain and determines the presence, type, and degree of hearing loss.
If our doctors suspect that your child has sensorineural hearing loss, she will be given an ABR. The test, performed while she's comfortably sedated, shows the softest sounds your child's ears can detect at various pitches.
How Boston Children's approaches ABR
Your child will be seen by members of our Audiology Program, which specializes in all aspects of infant and child hearing loss, from psychological effects to technological assistance. Our team has more than 11,000 visits each year.
Auditory Brainstem Response Evaluation | Programs & Services
Programs
Audiology Program
Program
Our Audiology Program is dedicated to identifying hearing loss in children and working with families to determine the best treatment plan.
Deaf and Hard of Hearing Program
Program
The Deaf and Hard of Hearing Program provides comprehensive evaluation and consultative services to D/deaf and hard of hearing children.
Departments
Otolaryngology and Communication Enhancement
Department
The Department of Otolaryngology and Communication Enhancement provides care for a wide variety of congenital and acquired conditions of the head and neck, ranging from airway obstruction and thyroglossal duct cysts to chronic ear and sinus infections.
Learn more about Otolaryngology and Communication Enhancement
