BERA (Brain stem Evoked Response Audiometry)

This evaluation is done to assess the functioning of the auditory pathway. This is also used as an objective measure of hearing in infants and children. For this test child should be completely relaxed/in sleep mode, as the body movements may affect the neural response. The audiologist places a transducer in the ear canal, which provides specific sounds ( ex: click/tone burst) to the ear. Different electrodes are placed on the child would record the neural response from the auditory pathway and other brainstem structures. These recordings will be analyzed by the audiologist who makes a diagnosis accordingly.

BERA is an instrumental tool in diagnosing hearing impairments, particularly in infants and those who may face challenges during standard hearing tests. Its main function is to measure electrical activity generated by sound stimuli, providing an objective assessment of auditory nerve and brainstem functionality. Newborns or individuals with developmental challenges can have their hearing issues identified using this non-invasive test. BERA helps diagnose hearing loss type, degree, and site of impairment. The precise localization and characterization of hearing deficits play a critical role in tailoring suitable intervention strategies, such as medical, surgical, or rehabilitative options, thereby enabling early and targeted treatments. BERA is a valuable tool in monitoring auditory system disorders and intervention effectiveness, making significant contributions to comprehensive audiologic evaluations and hearing condition management.