Local families can now access a specialised hearing assessment closer to home, thanks to the expansion of the Auditory Brainstem Response (ABR) testing service.
In a first for Metro South Health, ABR can now be performed under general anaesthetic (GA) for children whose hearing can’t be accurately assessed using traditional behavioural methods in an outpatient setting.
Advanced Audiologist Michelle Pound said ABR was a non-invasive, computerised test that measured how the hearing nerve responded to sound.
The procedure involves placing small electrodes on the child’s head to record tiny electrical signals from the auditory nerve in response to sounds delivered through earphones.
“ABR is most commonly used to assess babies under six months who don’t pass their newborn hearing screening,” Michelle said. “It’s also used for older children who aren’t developmentally ready for behavioural hearing tests, and occasionally in adult diagnostic cases.
“Because the brain generates too much electrical activity when a person is awake, young children usually need to be asleep for accurate results. That’s why general anaesthetic is sometimes required.”
Recognising the need for more accessible testing options, the audiology, ENT and theatre teams collaborated to deliver the service locally.
Michelle said offering the test at Logan meant families no longer needed to travel into the Queensland Children’s Hospital (QCH) or face extended wait times, helping to ease stress and improve access to care.
“Children can now be assessed sooner and closer to home, which can make a real difference in early intervention and outcomes,” she said
Up to 20 children in the Logan area are expected to benefit from the new service each year.
By offering ABR testing under GA on-site, Logan Hospital is enhancing timely diagnosis and care for children with complex hearing and developmental needs.