Glossary of Common Terms

Amplification

Term used to describe devices that can be used to amplify, or make louder, the hearing a child has. Examples of amplification are hearing aids, FM systems, and cochlear implants.

Audiologist

Hearing specialist trained to test hearing. An Audiologist also recommends and fits devices to aid hearing.

Auditory Brainstem Response (ABR, AABR, BAER, BER)

Auditory Brainstem Response This test measures how well a baby's hearing nerve responds to sounds. To perform the test, special sensors are placed on the baby's forehead and behind each ear.

A soft rubber earphone is placed in the baby's ear and sends a series of soft sounds into the sleeping baby's ear.

The sensors measure the response of the baby's hearing nerve. The responses are recorded and stored in a computer

dB (decibels)

When testing hearing, dB is used to indicate the loudness of a sound. The larger the number, the louder the sound. A 15 dB sound is very soft, and a 100 dB sound is very loud.

Diagnostic Audiologic Evaluation

A thorough hearing test conducted by an audiologist (hearing specialist). An in-depth ABR test is usually used to determine a baby's hearing status. This test will confirm whether or not hearing problems exist, and if so, to what degree.

View a list of audiologists in Washington (PDF) that provide diagnostic audiologic evaluation of infants based on the best practice guidelines.

Early Intervention

Early intervention services help young children and their families learn to communicate and adjust to living with hearing loss.

Services may include assistance in developing communication with your child, parent and sibling support groups, and instruction in different methods of communication.

Evoked Otoacoustic Emissions (OAE, EOAE, TEOAE, DPOAE

Evoked Otoacoustic Emissions (OAE, EOAE, TEOAE, DPOAE) image This is a test that measures how well a child's cochlea, or inner ear works. A soft rubber ear piece is placed in the baby's outer ear and makes a soft clicking sound.

Healthy ears will "echo" the click sound back to a microphone inside the ear piece that is in the baby's ear.

Hearing Loss

Hearing loss does not mean a child is deaf. There are varying degrees of hearing loss, ranging from mild to severe-profound (Deaf).

A diagnostic audiologic evaluation is needed to confirm if a child has a hearing loss, and to determine what degree of hearing loss a child has.

It is important to diagnose a hearing loss as early as possible so that early intervention services can begin before 6 months of age.

Understanding hearing loss.

Hearing Screening

A hearing screening determines if an infant's hearing is normal at the time of testing, or if more testing is necessary. A screening test is not the same as a diagnostic evaluation, which defines an infant's hearing more thoroughly.

If there are any problems on a hearing screening, the infant's hearing will usually be re-screened. If necessary, after the second screening test, an infant may be referred for a diagnostic audiologic evaluation.

About the hearing screening.

Hz (Hertz)

When testing hearing, Hz is used to indicate the frequency of a sound, or the pitch. The lower the number, the lower the pitch. The higher the number, the higher the pitch. A 250 Hz sound is a very low pitch, and an 8000 Hz sound is a very high pitch.

Otolaryngologist (ENT)

A medical doctor who specializes in ear nose & throat disorders. Otolaryngologists can diagnose and treat middle ear infections and medical problems that may affect your child's hearing.

Pass

A "Pass" result on a hearing screening means that a baby has normal hearing on the day of the test. It does not predict how a child will hear in the future.

A child's hearing should be re-tested at any time if speech-language milestones are not being met, or if there are parental concerns.

Monitoring your baby's hearing.

Pediatrician

A medical doctor who diagnoses and treats most childhood illnesses. He or she can answer questions about your child's general health.

Refer

A "Refer" result means that further testing is necessary to evaluate an infant's hearing. This could mean that a hearing problem may exist, but further testing is needed to confirm.

The most common reasons for a "refer" result on a hearing screening are birthing debris in the ear canal, middle ear fluid or infection, or a permanent hearing loss (3 in 1000 births).

What if my baby is referred for more testing.