Automated Oto-Acoustic Emissions (AOAEs) and Automated Auditory Brainstem Responses (AABRs)
Last reviewed 01/2018
Otoacoustic Emissions
- otoacoustic emissions or OAEs
- a miniature earphone and microphone are placed in the ear, sounds are
played and a response is measured. If a baby hears normally, an echo is
reflected back into the ear canal and this is picked up by the microphone
- when a baby has a hearing loss, no echo can be measured on the OAE test
- a miniature earphone and microphone are placed in the ear, sounds are
played and a response is measured. If a baby hears normally, an echo is
reflected back into the ear canal and this is picked up by the microphone
Auditory Brainstem Response
- auditory brainstem response or ABR
- sounds are played to the baby’s ears
- bandaid like electrodes that are placed on the baby’s head detect brainwaves
- test measures the brain responding to sounds
- also identifies babies who have a hearing loss