One of the most essential human faculties is that of hearing. As such, it is only imperative that hearing health is well tended to. This holds true for babies. It is therefore essential that parents have their baby undergo a
. Such hearing test is preferably performed during the baby’s first three months. This is to determine whether the baby has healthy hearing or otherwise. In most cases, children can listen and hear from birth. In most cases that is. There is however a population of infants who may be deaf or hard of hearing. This population comprises three to four percent of children in the United States.
In fact, many more children can suffer from hearing loss in early or late childhood. It is necessary then that infants go through a hearing test. It is through a hearing test wherein a hearing problem can be detected. If a hearing problem is then detected, intervention can be carried out. Early intervention and treatment for hearing problems can make a world of difference. When a hearing test confirms that a child suffers from hearing loss or difficulty, the child may have to learn language and communication differently. A hearing test should be supervised for an infant within its first three months.
The parents should see an audiologist for their baby’s hearing test. Once hearing loss has been established, measures can then be applied once the baby is 6 months old. Such measures can be hearing devices or other communication options. Most hospitals often perform hearing tests for newborn infants. There are hospitals however who conduct
s for high risk babies. Babies at higher risks for hearing problems are those with a family history of the condition. The same can be said with babies who have low birth weight or are suffering from other medical conditions. But a hearing test should not be exclusive to high risk babies.
Even normal, healthy babies need to go through a hearing test. After all, they do have chances of being hearing impaired. A hearing test for babies is of two sorts. First, there is the Otoaucustic emissions (OAE) hearing test and then the Auditory Brain Stem Response (ABR) hearing test. In an OAE hearing test, it is indicated whether part of the ear responds correctly to sound. During an OAE hearing test a sponge earphone is positioned in the ear canal. The ear is then stimulated with sound and the response is measured with an echo. If an echo is missing, then a hearing impairment can be present.
The ABR hearing test determines how the brain and the brain stem respond to sound. As the baby needs to be calm and quiet during this test, a mild sedative may be administered. Through an ABR
, the baby’s hearing condition is indicated by the brain’s activity. Research has shown that early intervention for hearing impairment is beneficial in so many ways. The sooner a hearing impairment is confirmed, the earlier the parents can employ means and strategies to help their child communicate better.
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