ABR Referral Coordination

Auditory Brainstem Response (ABR) testing measures how the auditory nerve and brainstem respond to sound. Small surface electrodes detect the brain’s electrical response to clicks and tone bursts — no behavioral response is required from the patient.

• Objective measurement of the auditory pathway up through the brainstem
• Used to estimate hearing thresholds when behavioral testing is not possible
• Required for ruling out retrocochlear pathology in adults with asymmetric findings

AuDSLP does not perform ABR testing in-house. When a child ages 5 and up needs ABR — whether to confirm a behavioral hearing result or rule out a more complex auditory finding — Dr. Boiselle refers to one of the trusted hospital and diagnostic partners in the area.

• We identify whether ABR is the right next step based on your child’s evaluation results
• We coordinate the referral, send relevant clinical context to the receiving provider, and follow up
• We review the ABR results with you in plain language and integrate the findings into your child’s care plan
• If hearing aids or further intervention are indicated, we manage the next steps directly

• Inconsistent behavioral hearing test results in school-age children
• Suspected auditory neuropathy or hidden hearing loss
• Adults with asymmetric hearing loss (to rule out acoustic neuroma)
• Patients with unexplained one-sided tinnitus
• Anyone who cannot provide reliable behavioral responses during a standard hearing test

The ABR appointment itself usually takes 30–60 minutes at the referral site. Most patients are awake and resting; younger children are sedated by the receiving provider when clinically appropriate.

Once your ABR results are back, you come back to AuDSLP for the part that actually changes your day-to-day: interpretation, planning, and treatment.

• Plain-language results review for parents and patients
• Treatment recommendations that match the diagnostic findings
• Coordination with your pediatrician, ENT, or school IEP team
• Hearing aid fitting, auditory processing therapy, or speech-language therapy when indicated