Hearing screening – how is it done?
There are two main methods of screening a baby’s hearing. The method that is most often used to screen newborn babies in Ontario is very simple from the baby’s point of view. A small earphone is placed in the baby’s ear. Soft sounds are played through the earphone, and the ear’s response is measured and recorded by the computer. Most babies sleep through the whole experience, and parents are given the results right away. Another method, called Automated Auditory Brainstem Response or AABR, also involves a small earphone placed in the baby’s ear. Three small sticky electrodes are place on the forehead and behind the ears to measure the brain’s response to soft sounds. Again, the baby will probably sleep comfortably through the whole experience.
