Electrodes are soft pads that are connected to the ABR machine by covered wires. Electrodes will not hurt or shock your child. A clicking signal is presented through the earphones, and a computer records the brainstem's response and measures the hearing level of each ear. The test takes up to an hour, and your child must remain completely still the whole time. Most children are given medicine to help them sleep during the test.
Behavioral tests measure hearing by the way that a person responds to sound.
They can be done with children as young as 6 to 7 months old. There are many types of behavioral tests. When your child turns toward the sound, a toy moves above the speaker that made the sound. Your child may play a listening game such as dropping a block in a bucket when he hears a sound. Older children may wear earphones and raise their hands when they hear tones.