Auditory Brainstem Response (ABR) is a safe, painless, and non-invasive hearing assessment that evaluates how the auditory nerve and the brainstem pathways respond to sound stimulation. It is an objective diagnostic test, meaning that the patient does not need to actively participate, raise a hand, or provide verbal feedback during the procedure. This makes ABR particularly valuable for newborns, infants, young children, individuals with developmental difficulties, and patients who are unable to provide reliable responses during conventional behavioral hearing tests.

During an ABR test, small electrodes are placed on the forehead and behind the ears to record the electrical activity produced by the auditory system in response to sounds. Soft clicking sounds or tone bursts are delivered through earphones or small insert speakers, and the electrodes measure the tiny electrical signals generated as sound travels through the inner ear, auditory nerve, and brainstem. These responses are analyzed by specialized equipment to determine whether the auditory pathway is functioning normally.