Calcutta
Hearing
Clinic

• Babies are screened by portable handy equipment – test being called Oto Acoustic Emission (OAE). Time taken for test is 1-2 minutes.

• If abnormal result (no response), test repeated after 2 weeks. If again no response, Brainstem Evoked Response Audiometry (BERA) test along with Behavioral Observation Audiometry (BOA) is done for confirmation and quantification of hearing loss.

• If BERA abnormal, do comprehensive hearing evaluation.

• If confirmed, next step is hearing aid usage at the earliest.

• Hearing aids may be fitted for infants as early as 2 months of age. This should be followed with auditory training and speech therapy. Children with profound deafness who drive negligible benefit from conventional amplification with hearing aids may be considered for cochlear implants. To conclude, it is necessary to secure holistic development of the child by detecting hearing loss at birth and providing remedial measures at the earliest.