When carrying out a hearing evaluation on your child, the doctor actually performs a full physical examination and dig deep into the medical history of the child. This is not the only way of examining the hearing ability of your child, there are other tests. While some of these tests are applicable to all ages, others are meant for a specific age of a child as well as his ability to understand. Here is a breakdown of various tests done on children with different ages.
To start with, there are two types of tests used on newborns babes. These tests are used alone or be combined. Auditory brainstem response is the first one and is abbreviated as ABR. In these tests, wires are joined to the baby scalp using an adhesive. This test is preferably done when the baby is at sleep to avoid distraction. This test is mean t for measuring the brain activity of the baby in response to a clicking sound delivered into the ears of the baby through small earphones. The good thing with this test is that it is painless, and it takes just few minutes to complete it.
The second test used on a newborn is called evoked otoacoustic emissions abbreviated as EOAE. This test uses a small, flexible plug which is fitted in the ear of the baby. Through this plug, sound is sent. The plug has a microphone, which records the otoacoustic responses of the ear in reaction to the sounds produced. This test is also done when the baby is asleep and it is also painless.
Similar test is carried out on an infants but they are examined using an additional test, which is known as behavioral audiometry. The behavior of child is put under keen observation, to see how they react after certain sounds that are made. The ear professional may decide to carry out more test if need arises.
Babies between the age of six months and two years usually use two tests. The first one is known as visual reinforcement audiometry (VRA). The child is taught to focus on a source of a produced sound. The child enjoys the test since it is formulated like a game that has a reward system in form of visible objects such as toys in motion or flashlights. Once the child makes the correct response, they are rewarded.
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.
To start with, there are two types of tests used on newborns babes. These tests are used alone or be combined. Auditory brainstem response is the first one and is abbreviated as ABR. In these tests, wires are joined to the baby scalp using an adhesive. This test is preferably done when the baby is at sleep to avoid distraction. This test is mean t for measuring the brain activity of the baby in response to a clicking sound delivered into the ears of the baby through small earphones. The good thing with this test is that it is painless, and it takes just few minutes to complete it.
The second test used on a newborn is called evoked otoacoustic emissions abbreviated as EOAE. This test uses a small, flexible plug which is fitted in the ear of the baby. Through this plug, sound is sent. The plug has a microphone, which records the otoacoustic responses of the ear in reaction to the sounds produced. This test is also done when the baby is asleep and it is also painless.
Similar test is carried out on an infants but they are examined using an additional test, which is known as behavioral audiometry. The behavior of child is put under keen observation, to see how they react after certain sounds that are made. The ear professional may decide to carry out more test if need arises.
Babies between the age of six months and two years usually use two tests. The first one is known as visual reinforcement audiometry (VRA). The child is taught to focus on a source of a produced sound. The child enjoys the test since it is formulated like a game that has a reward system in form of visible objects such as toys in motion or flashlights. Once the child makes the correct response, they are rewarded.
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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