Glue Ear: Guide

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Hearing tests

A baby’s hearing is tested shortly after birth as part of the Newborn Hearing Screening Programme.  Children are not born with Glue Ear but it is common in the first year of life.

The two tests that may be used in the Newborn Hearing Screen are oto-acoustic emission and Automated auditory brainstem response.  Both of these tests are objective tests and do not require the baby to respond in anyway.  The auditory brainstem response test needs the baby to be asleep (either under natural sleep or sedated).

NHS choices provides further information about the Newborn Hearing Screen and includes a video of a child having the oto-acoustic emission hearing test and an automated auditory brainstem response.

A child will not be ready to do the next type of hearing test until they are about 6 months old.  Distraction testing and Visual Reinforcement Audiometry (VRA) require a child to be able to sit on an adults lap and have developed head control to be able to turn when they hear a sound.  VRA is a test which encourages the child to look for a visual reward of a moving toy in response to hearing a sound.  VRA is the test of choice for children from about 6 months to 2 years plus.  Distraction testing may be used if the child isn’t developmentally ready for VRA.

child with headphones sitting on mother's knee during 'play' audiometry

Between the ages of 2 to 3 years, a child can be taught (conditioned) to carry out an action in response to hearing a sound.  In Play audiometry sounds can be presented through 

speakers, headphones and insert earphones.  The child’s developmental ability and attention levels will impact on the success of this test.

 

Bone conduction test

A bone conduction test sends sound directly to the inner ear.  It is carried out by placing a small vibrating device on the bone behind the ear.  This test can help to determine if the hearing loss is due to a problem in the middle ear.

This NHS document describes different types of hearing tests.

 

Further information about the different hearing tests for young children can be found here.

 

 

Understanding your child’s hearing tests is a booklet that has been produced by the NDCS and explains the different hearing tests in more detail.

 

References

NDCS (2019) ‘Understanding  your child’s hearing tests’ [On line] Available at: https://www.ndcs.org.uk/information-and-support/childhood-deafness/hearing-tests/  [Accessed: 9 Sept. 2023] 

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