MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia: BAER - brainstem auditory evoked response

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BAER - brainstem auditory evoked response

Contents of this page:
Illustrations Alternative names Definition How the test is performed How to prepare for the test	How the test will feel Why the test is performed Normal Values What abnormal results mean What the risks are

Illustrations

Brain

Brain wave monitor

Alternative names Return to top

Evoked auditory potentials; BAEP - brainstem auditory evoked potentials; Evoked response audiometry

Definition Return to top

The brainstem auditory evoked response (BAER) test measures responses in brain waves that are stimulated by a clicking sound to evaluate the central auditory pathways of the brainstem.

How the test is performed Return to top

You are positioned on a reclining chair or bed and are asked to relax and remain still. Electrodes are placed on your scalp and on each earlobe. You hear clicking noises or tone bursts through earphones, and the electrodes pick up the brain's response and record it on a graph.

How to prepare for the test Return to top

You may be asked to wash your hair the night before the test.

Infants and children:
The physical and psychological preparation you can provide for this or any test or procedure depends on your child's age, interests, previous experiences, and level of trust. For specific information regarding how you can prepare your child, see the following topics as they correspond to your child's age:

Infant test or procedure preparation (birth to 1 year)
Toddler test or procedure preparation (1 to 3 years)
Preschooler test or procedure preparation (3 to 6 years)
Schoolage test or procedure preparation (6 to 12 years)
Adolescent test or procedure preparation (12 to 18 years)

How the test will feel Return to top

There is little discomfort.

Why the test is performed Return to top

The test is performed to help diagnose nervous system abnormalities, hearing losses (especially in low-birth-weight newborns), and to assess neurologic functions.

Normal Values Return to top

The auditory brain stem values are in a normal range. This range varies among patients and instruments used.

What abnormal results mean Return to top

Abnormal findings may indicate a hearing loss, multiple sclerosis, or a cerebrovascular accident (stroke).

Additional conditions under which the test may be performed:

What the risks are Return to top

There are no risks.

Update Date: 5/8/2003

Updated by: Elaine T. Kiriakopoulos, M.D., M.Sc., Department of Neurology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard University, Boston, MA. Review provided by Verimed Healthcare Network.

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