My daughter was born three weeks early. She was small but healthy. Or so I thought. When she was two months old, she did not react to loud sounds. She would not turn her head when I clapped near her ear. Her pediatrician suggested two special tests. An ABR test and an ASSR test. I had never heard of these before. I was terrified. But after going through both tests with my baby, I want to explain what they are so other parents do not panic like I did.

What Is an ABR Test and Why Is It Done

ABR test stands for Auditory Brainstem Response. It is a test that measures how your hearing nerve and brain react to sound. The ABR test does not require the patient to do anything. You do not have to press a button or raise your hand. This makes ABR test perfect for newborn babies, young children, or adults who cannot cooperate because of other disabilities. In an ABR test, small stickers called electrodes are placed on the head and behind the ears. Soft earphones are put in the ears. Clicking sounds are played, and the electrodes record how the brain responds. The whole ABR test takes about thirty to forty minutes. My baby slept through the entire thing.

What Is an ASSR Test and How It Is Different

ASSR test stands for Auditory Steady State Response. It is similar to ABR test but more detailed. While ABR test tells whether the hearing nerve is working or not, ASSR test can measure hearing loss at different frequencies separately. For example, an ASSR test can tell you if your child hears low sounds like a dog barking but cannot hear high sounds like a doorbell. The ASSR test uses a continuous tone instead of clicks. The machine then analyzes brain wave patterns that match the rhythm of the tone. Many audiologists use both ABR test and ASSR test together because they give a complete picture.

Why My Baby Needed Both ABR Test and ASSR Test

The first ABR test showed that my baby had some response to loud sounds but not to soft ones. That told us there was hearing loss but not exactly how much. The doctor then recommended an ASSR test. The ASSR test showed that my baby could hear low frequency sounds at sixty decibels but high frequency sounds only at ninety decibels. That meant she had moderate to severe high frequency hearing loss. Without the ASSR test, we would have bought the wrong type of hearing aid. We needed a device that specifically amplifies high pitched sounds like a mother's voice and birdsong.

How to Prepare a Child for ABR Test and ASSR Test

Both ABR test and ASSR test require the child to be completely still or asleep. My baby was given a mild sedative syrup thirty minutes before the tests. She slept through both the ABR test and the ASSR test without any discomfort. The electrodes do not hurt. They feel like small sticky bandages being removed. Some hospitals perform ABR test and ASSR test during natural sleep if the baby is very young and tired. But for older children, sedation is usually needed. Do not be afraid of sedation. The dose is very small and wears off within two hours. My baby was smiling and hungry as soon as she woke up.

What the Results of ABR Test and ASSR Test Meant for Us

The combination of ABR test and ASSR test gave us a clear hearing profile. We started early intervention when my baby was only three months old. She got hearing aids before her first birthday. Now she is two years old and speaks almost as well as other children her age. If we had not done the ABR test and ASSR test early, she would have missed critical years for language development. I tell every new parent I meet that newborn hearing screening should include both ABR test and ASSR test if possible. The tests are painless. They take one morning. But they can change your child's entire future.

Final Words for Worried Parents

I know the names ABR test and ASSR test sound scary. They sound like big machines and complicated procedures. But the reality is very simple. Your child sleeps through both tests. You sit in the same room. A kind technician does all the work. The results come in a clear graph that even a non medical person can understand. If the ABR test or ASSR test shows a problem, you get help early. If the tests are normal, you get peace of mind. There is no downside. Please do not delay. Ask your pediatrician for a referral for ABR test and ASSR test if you have any concern about your child's hearing.