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Kinds Of Hearing Evaluation Tests For Younger Generation

By Serena Price


For the physician to do a hearing evaluation on your child, he will have to perform a complete physical examination and medical history. Besides this, there are other various types of hearing tests that can also be used to examine your child ability to hear. Some of these tests can be used on every age while others are only meant for the specific age of the child and his level of understanding. Below are some of the tests and how they are used on different ages of children.

A newborn can be evaluated used two types of tests. These tests can be used alone or together. The first test is auditory brainstem response abbreviated as ABR. This test uses wires which are joined to the scalp of the baby using an adhesive. The test is carried out when the baby is asleep to avoid distraction. Clicking sounds are applied through small earphones in the ear of the baby. The test usually measures the brain activity in response to the sounds produced. This test takes only a few minutes and it is painless.

The other method is known as evoked otoacoustic emissions. It is abbreviated as EOAE. In this method, plugs, which are small and flexible, are fitted in the baby ears. These plugs are meant for conveying sound to the baby. The microphones on these plug then records the otoacoustic responses of the ear in response to the sounds produced. This test is painless.

One of the methods used on infants is referred to as behavioral audiometry. This method involving observation of the child behaviors in response to the sound they are subjected to. The doctor may also use a different additional test if need be.

Moving to toddler stage, two kinds of tests are used here too. To start with, there is visual reinforcement audiometry or VRA. This test involves a child being trained to look at a source of sound and their response is observed. If they respond as expected, then they are rewarded with visual objects like a moving toy flash light. This test is meant for children in the age bracket between 6 months to 2 years.

The second test used on toddler is known as play audiometry. This involves the use of electrical machine to relay sound at different pitches and volumes into the child ears. This test can be done in form of a game based on the child age group. In this test, a child is asked to operate a moving toy in reaction to the sound they hears. The bad thing with this test is the cooperation of the child which in most cases is not guaranteed.

A child who is older than 3 or 4 years can be evaluated using Tympanometry test which is also referred to as impendance audiometry. This test is used to determine how the middle ear of the child is working. It does not tell if the child has hear loss or not but it helps to detect any pressure change in the middle ear. The child is required to sit still and not cry, move or talk.

Another test used for hearing evaluation in older children is Pure Tone audiometry. In this test, an electric machine is used to produce sounds at varied pitches as well as volumes onto the ears of the child. The child is asked to respond with his hand when he hears the tone through the earphone.




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