Diagnostic ABR Assessment

The diagnostic ABR appointment is an in-depth assessment of hearing performed by a BCEHP-trained audiologist. Like the AABR, electrodes are placed on the forehead and behind the ears, and soft clicks are presented by earphones. The electrodes measure the neural responses to the clicks from the auditory nerve and brainstem. Interpretation of data is done by the audiologist. Appointments are usually between two to three hours in length, although actual test time is usually less. The infant must be asleep as myogenic activity interferes with interpretation of waveforms.

It is not uncommon to require several appointments to obtain complete results, as infants do not always sleep long enough for complete results in one appointment. Needing several appointments may reduce parents’ confidence in the testing or their willingness to see testing through to completion. As a physician, midwife, or nurse, your confidence and support of the screening and assessment process can help to ensure that families follow through with the necessary appointments.

The following public health audiology clinics provide diagnostic Auditory Brainstem Response (ABR) assessments:

 

Health Authority	Clinic
Fraser Health Authority	Chilliwack
	Burnaby
	North Delta
	Surrey Memorial Hospital
Interior Health Authority	Cranbrook
	Trail
	Kelowna
	Kamloops
Northern Health Authority	Fort St. John
	Prince George
	Prince Rupert
	Terrace
Vancouver Coastal Health Authority	Richmond
	North Shore
	Vancouver
Vancouver Island Health Authority	Nanaimo
	Victoria
	West Shore
Provincial Health Services Authority	BC Children’s Hospital