Auditory brainstem response (ABR) test 

According to the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, the auditory brainstem response (ABR) test tells us how the inner ear (or cochlea) and the brain pathways for hearing are working. The test is also called an auditory evoked potential (AEP). 

What is ABR? 

The auditory brainstem response (ABR) test measures your hearing. Patients who are unable to complete a typical hearing screening may be given the ABR test. It also helps doctors evaluate how well your auditory neural pathway is functioning. 

How it works 

Electrodes are placed on the patient’s head, and earphones are placed in the ears. As sounds are sent through the earphones, a computer keeps track of the brain’s response. Patients must be still and quiet during the test. Some young children require sedation to complete the test, which can last from one to two hours. 

Benefits of ABR 

The test is painless and noninvasive. It tracks the nerve impulses that relay sound from the inner ear to the brain. This helps doctors determine if a patient has hearing loss, what kind it might be and where it occurred. It also helps them determine what the possible remedies might be.