A hearing test for a newborn is perhaps the first and most important step to know how your baby hears. There are generally two methods of testing it – Otoacoustic Emission (OAE) and Brainstem Evoked Response Audiometry (BERA). Here you will come to know the importance of this test and how it’s done.
Once your baby arrives in this world, it’s important to check his/her hearing ability. If the baby is born in the Hospital, often the hearing test for the newborn in Delhi is done before the baby is discharged. It helps the parents to know immediately if the newborn has a hearing loss and can be treated without wasting any time.
Hearing problems of the newborn can also be caused due to congenital causes. However, experts say that if the problem is identified in the first 6 months can be treated and cured properly.
How hearing tests are performed for babies?
According to the medical experts of ENT, there are two methods used to detect hearing loss of the baby – BERA and OAE. Here is a deep understanding of how these two types are performed:
- Otoacoustic Emission (OAE): This test is executed to record sound emitted by the normal cochlea. OAE is done within a few minutes and is not at all cumbersome. It’s usually performed for large scale testing of the babies.
- Brain Evoked Response Audiometry (BERA): It’s a non-invasive type of assessment that is carried out to measure the electrical activity of the brain against the response of sound. This method of screening needs a longer time as compared to OAE as it focuses on identifying the nature of deafness.
When and why are hearing tests for babies mandatory?
Doctors suggest parents get their newborn baby tested for OAE at 6 weeks of age. If your baby fails to pass this test, the doctor may ask to go with the other test BERA. Once, the results of both tests are checked by the doctor then only the baby is declared as normal. If you have become parent for the first time and are looking for – hearing test for babies near me, then you must check it online.
There are several ENT specialists available online who can help you in the hearing test of your child. Also, there are hospitals where ENT doctors are available most of the time. You can call them directly or visit their websites to book an appointment. Some of the doctors also have live chat consulting facilities.
Speech therapy for kids and aults is also very different. The role of speech therapists is to help patients understand their speech patterns and their feelings, and emotional states better. They use various means of communication to help patients communicate more accurately and properly.
Hearing test offers an evaluation of person sensitivity to hearing across a full range of speech. The test allows the doctors to measure the quietest sound which can be heard from distinct points. The most common type of test is audiogram. The test is painless and easy. Considering we are surrounded by the sound around us – the chirping of the bird, ringing of the doorbell, chatting with friends, listing to music – the sound is an important part of our life.
It’s time to take care of your baby!
1 Comment