There are 2 types of screening equipment that are most commonly used; both are accurate and reliable. Each hospital has selected a type of screening equipment based on their hospital resources, available personnel, cost, and the number of births at that facility. With training and supervision nurses, volunteers, technicians or students can do the hearing screenings.
Otoacoustic Emissions (OAE)
For this type of screening, a miniature earphone and microphone are placed in the ear, sounds are played and a response is measured. If a baby hears clearly, an echo is returned back into the ear canal and this is picked up by the microphone.
Auditory Brainstem Response (ABR)
For this type of screening, sounds are played into the baby's ears. Band-aid like electrodes are placed on the baby's head to measure the brain responding to the sounds.
