What is a primary purpose of auditory brainstem response (ABR) testing?

• A. Electrodes are placed on the head to record brain wave activity in response to sounds; the patient rests quietly or sleeps; no verbal responses are required
• B. It tests the tympanic membrane mobility
• C. To measure brainstem responses to sounds to assess cochlear and auditory pathways
• D. It uses otoacoustic emissions to screen newborns

Answer: (C)

Auditory brainstem response testing is about measuring how the brainstem responds to sounds, by recording the electrical activity generated along the auditory pathway with scalp electrodes. This objective measure reflects the integrity and timing of the pathway from the cochlea through the brainstem, helping to assess both cochlear function and neural transmission up to the brainstem. It’s especially useful for newborns and others who can’t participate in behavioral hearing tests because no verbal response is required.

The other descriptions relate to different aspects or tests: using electrodes and quiet sleeping describes how the test is conducted, not its purpose; testing tympanic membrane mobility refers to tympanometry and middle-ear status; otoacoustic emissions screening measures outer hair cell function and is commonly used in newborn hearing screening, not ABR.