Auditory Brainstem Response or Auditory Brainstem Response Audiometry is a screening test to monitor for hearing loss or deafness in newborn infants. It is a method employed to assess the functions of the ears, cranial nerves, and various brain functions,auditory brain center, prior to the child developing to the point of describing a possible hearing problem. Hearing impairment or deafness is decreased or absent ability to perceive auditory information. ... An editor has expressed a concern that the topic of this article may be unencyclopedic. ... A human ear (also called auricle or pinna) The ear is the sense organ that detects sound. ... Grays Fig. ... Auditory brain centers process raw sound and make sense of it. ...

Auditory brainstem response (ABR) audiometry is a safe and painless test of auditory pathway and brainstem function in response to auditory or (click) stimuli, in infants. The procedure was first described by Jewett and Williston in 1971. ABR audiometry is the most common application of auditory evoked responses. Test administration and interpretation are typically performed by an audiologist. (See reference) An audiologist is the professional specializing in disorders of the auditory and vestibular portions of the body; an audiologist diagnoses and treats hearing and (balance) problems. ...

Auditory brainstem response (ABR) technology has been used in testing newborns for the past 15 years. Approximately 1 of every 1000 children is born deaf. Many more are born with less severe degrees of hearing impairment, while others may acquire hearing loss during early childhood.

Historically, only infants who met one or more criteria on the high-risk register were tested. Universal hearing screening has been recommended because about 50% of the infants later identified with hearing loss are not tested when neonatal hearing screening is restricted to high-risk groups. Recently, hospitals across the United States have been implementing universal newborn hearing screening programs. These programs are possible because of the combination of technological advances in ABR and otoacoustic emissions (OAE) testing methods and equipment availability, which enables accurate and cost-effective evaluation of hearing in newborns.

Reference:

• Emedicine article on Auditory Brainstem Response Audiometry

Headline text

I IS DEAF, BRA... YOU GUYS ARE BEIN' DISCRIMINATIVE AND I IS APRECIATIN' IT IF YA LEAVE ME ALONE!'

External links

• PDF file of Auditory Brainstem Responce in research
• Biological Psychology, PDF file describing research of related speech and hearing problems