Newborn babies need to be screened for any potential problems in their hearing by using some two main tests. The first one is automated oto-acoustic emissions test, known as AOAE and takes a few minutes to complete. It can be done when the baby is in slumber. A minute earpiece is placed in the ears and quiet sounds that are clicking played through it. It is a type of hearing test Etobicoke residents can use.
For the test, in the event that the ears are functioning well, echoes will be produced in the part of the ear known as the cochlea. The sounds that result are sent to a computer for analysis. If the results are not clear enough, the test would have to be done once again or a different test performed. Failure of the first test may be attributed to unsettled state of the baby during the test, temporary ear blockage or presence of background noise.
Another test is the automated auditory brainstem test, abbreviated as AABR. In this, there is placement of three sensors that are small on the head and neck of the child. Quiet sounds get played through soft headphones placed on the ears. Sound analysis is done by special computers. These two tests will not work for older babies.
In visual reinforcement audiometry, a baby will be made to sit on the laps as sounds are played to them from a speaker. If the baby turns in the direction of the produced sound, a reward is given in the form of for instance a toy that is lit. In order to know the least sound the baby is able to hear at each pitch, the loudness will be varied. The same test may be performed using earphones. Earphones enable every ear to be tested on its own. It is used in kids between six months and three years old.
In pure tone audiometry, the instrument used is an audiometer which generates sounds with frequencies that vary. These sounds are normally played through a headphone. As this happens, the child will be asked to show a response when they hear a sound. For example, they may be asked to press a button. The sound level is gradually reduced to know the least sound the child can hear.
The method is useful only for children above 3 years of age. It comes in handy for screening how well the hearing of a child is before school begins. There also is play audiometry in which the child is expected to perform some simple task whenever they hear sounds from headphones. Such a task include moving of a toy.
A speech perception test is very effective too. It assesses the ability of children to recognize words without observing the person make movements of the lips. The words are said directly to the child while ensuring no lip movements are shown or they are played through headphones. The child identifies a word through picking out a matching word or picture from a list.
The testing method will depend on age of the child. There are different tests for adults. Hearing tests are best done when children are young.
For the test, in the event that the ears are functioning well, echoes will be produced in the part of the ear known as the cochlea. The sounds that result are sent to a computer for analysis. If the results are not clear enough, the test would have to be done once again or a different test performed. Failure of the first test may be attributed to unsettled state of the baby during the test, temporary ear blockage or presence of background noise.
Another test is the automated auditory brainstem test, abbreviated as AABR. In this, there is placement of three sensors that are small on the head and neck of the child. Quiet sounds get played through soft headphones placed on the ears. Sound analysis is done by special computers. These two tests will not work for older babies.
In visual reinforcement audiometry, a baby will be made to sit on the laps as sounds are played to them from a speaker. If the baby turns in the direction of the produced sound, a reward is given in the form of for instance a toy that is lit. In order to know the least sound the baby is able to hear at each pitch, the loudness will be varied. The same test may be performed using earphones. Earphones enable every ear to be tested on its own. It is used in kids between six months and three years old.
In pure tone audiometry, the instrument used is an audiometer which generates sounds with frequencies that vary. These sounds are normally played through a headphone. As this happens, the child will be asked to show a response when they hear a sound. For example, they may be asked to press a button. The sound level is gradually reduced to know the least sound the child can hear.
The method is useful only for children above 3 years of age. It comes in handy for screening how well the hearing of a child is before school begins. There also is play audiometry in which the child is expected to perform some simple task whenever they hear sounds from headphones. Such a task include moving of a toy.
A speech perception test is very effective too. It assesses the ability of children to recognize words without observing the person make movements of the lips. The words are said directly to the child while ensuring no lip movements are shown or they are played through headphones. The child identifies a word through picking out a matching word or picture from a list.
The testing method will depend on age of the child. There are different tests for adults. Hearing tests are best done when children are young.
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