I am thirty weeks pregnant. My doctor recommended an ABR test and an ASSR test for my baby because I had a fever during early pregnancy. I was terrified. I thought the tests would hurt my baby. I thought the results would be bad. I was wrong on both counts. Here is my experience with ABR test and ASSR test so that other mothers do not panic like I did.
What Is an ABR Test and Why Did My Doctor Recommend It
ABR test stands for Auditory Brainstem Response. It is a test that measures how the hearing nerve and brain react to sound. My doctor recommended an ABR test because my fever could have affected the baby’s hearing development. The ABR test is completely safe for newborns. It does not use any needles or radiation. Small stickers called electrodes are placed on the baby’s head. 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 minutes.
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 if your baby hears low sounds like a dog barking but cannot hear high sounds like a doorbell. My doctor recommended both ABR test and ASSR test because together they give a complete picture of the baby’s hearing.
How the ABR Test and ASSR Test Are Performed on a Newborn
My baby was born healthy. On the third day, a technician came to our hospital room to perform the ABR test and ASSR test. My baby was sleeping. The technician placed small stickers on her forehead and behind her ears. Then she put soft earphones in the baby’s ears. The baby did not wake up. The machines made soft clicking sounds. The whole ABR test and ASSR test together took about forty five minutes. My baby slept through the entire thing. She did not cry. She did not even move.
What the Results of the ABR Test and ASSR Test Meant for Us
The ABR test showed that my baby’s hearing nerve responded to sounds. That was good. The ASSR test showed that she could hear low, medium, and high frequencies at normal levels. That was even better. The doctor said her hearing was perfect. I cried. But I cried from relief, not from sadness. If the ABR test and ASSR test had shown a problem, we would have started early intervention within the first few months. Early treatment can make a huge difference.
Why Every Newborn Should Have an ABR Test and ASSR Test
Many parents do not know that hearing loss is invisible. A baby can have normal hearing loss and still smile and coo. The only way to know is through an ABR test and ASSR test. If hearing loss is detected early, the baby can get hearing aids or other help before the age of six months. This is critical for language development. Babies who get help early often develop speech normally. Babies who are diagnosed late may struggle with talking and learning.
Final Words for New Mothers
Do not be scared of the ABR test and ASSR test. They are painless. They are safe. They are quick. Your baby will likely sleep through them. If the results are normal, you will have peace of mind. If the results show a problem, you will have the gift of early intervention. Either way, the ABR test and ASSR test are a blessing. My baby is now six months old. She turns her head when I call her name. She babbles. She laughs. I am grateful every day that we did the ABR test and ASSR test when she was born.
