Dallas Otolaryngology Associates - ABR Pre-sedation Instructions

SEDATED ABR INSTRUCTIONS

Your child is scheduled for an Auditory Brainstem Response (ABR) to take place in Suite A-107 at Medical City Dallas Hospital.

The instructions below are for a SEDATED ABR. If your child is having an unsedated ABR, please read the ABR Without Sedation Instructions.

An ABR is an objective test that measures “brain waves” produced when the ear hears sounds. This test assesses the function of the auditory (hearing) pathway, from the ear to the brainstem. In order to perform this test, your child must sleep throughout the procedure. Once asleep, electrodes will be placed on your child's forehead, on top of the head, and on the skin behind both ears and earphones will be placed in your child's ears that will present different tones and clicks to the ear. There will not be any discomfort during the test. Upon completion of the test, the audiologist will discuss all the results. A report will be written to you (the parents) as well as the referring physician discussing the results and any recommendations.

Please follow the instructions below per the patient's age:

Newborn to 6 months of age:

NO food, breast milk, milk or formula, etc. 4 hours prior to your appointment time.
Your child may have CLEAR LIQUIDS (apple juice, water, 7-up) up UNTIL 2 hours prior to the appointment time, but nothing by mouth for the 2 hours leading up to the test.

6 months of age and older:

NO food, breast milk, milk or formula, etc 6 hours prior to the appointment time.
Your child may have CLEAR LIQUIDS (apple juice, water, 7-up) up UNTIL 2 hours prior to the appointment.
Please deprive your child of sleep the night before the test. (Get your child up early and keep him/her up late.) This will help your child sleep for the procedure.

Please bring a container of clear liquid (i.e., apple juice, Pedialyte, 7-up) for your child to drink after the evaluation is completed. Milk or formula will not be allowed until he/she has had clear liquids.

We realize that it is difficult to not allow your child to sleep and eat; however, it is very important for the procedure. The test typically lasts about an hour; however, we allow three hours for test preparation, testing, and counseling.

Please call us at 972-566-7359 if you have any questions or concerns with the food and drink instructions or if your child becomes sick.

Click here to download a Word document version of these instructions.

Dallas Otolaryngology
7777 Forest Lane A-103
Dallas, Texas 75230 (audiology lab - A-107)

Phone: 972.566.7600
Fax: 972.566.6560