Recall. A 5-month-old baby passed the neonatal hearing screening, but came with parental concern about hearing. What is the best test to be done?
Recall . A 5 months old baby passed the neonatal hearing screening, came with parental concern about hearing. What is the best test to be done?
OAE
ABR
Visual evoked potential
Distraction test
Pure tone audiometry
Review Explanation
Ans- B
Explanation
Key facts in the question:
- Age: 5 months old.
- Passed neonatal hearing screening (so no major congenital hearing loss detected at birth).
- Now parents are concerned — could be late-onset or progressive hearing loss.
- We need the best test for this age group.
Understanding the options:
|
Test |
What it measures |
Age suitability |
Notes |
|
OAE (Otoacoustic Emissions) |
Outer hair cell function in cochlea |
Any age, quick screening |
Good for screening, but if concern is high, we need a diagnostic test |
|
ABR (Auditory Brainstem Response) |
Electrical activity from cochlea to brainstem |
Any age, gold standard for infants |
Can detect sensorineural hearing loss, even if mild; not dependent on cooperation |
|
Visual evoked potential |
Visual pathway function |
Not relevant for hearing |
|
|
Distraction test |
Behavioral response to sound |
Reliable from ~6 months to 2 years |
Baby is too young (5 months) for accurate results |
|
Pure tone audiometry |
Behavioral hearing test |
From ~4–5 years |
Not suitable for infants |
Key reasoning:
- At 5 months, behavioral tests like distraction test are not yet reliable.
- Since there is parental concern, we need a diagnostic rather than a screening test.
- ABR is the gold standard for confirming hearing loss in infants — it’s objective, works at any age, and can detect even mild losses.
- OAE is useful for screening, but ABR is preferred here because the baby already passed newborn screening and now has new concerns — we need to check the entire auditory pathway.
✅ Best answer: B. ABR (Auditory Brainstem Response)
Our Popular Courses
Unlock Premium Content for Just $20!
Gain unlimited access to our top resources with a one-time payment. No recurring fees!
What's Included:
- Practice Tests & Mock Exams
- Comprehensive Question Bank
- Expert Study Materials & Guides
Why Go Premium?
- No Recurring Fees: Pay once for 4 months of access.
- Complete Access: All exams and study materials at your fingertips.
- Learn at Your Own Pace: Study when and where it suits you.
How It Works:
- Sign up on MRCPCHPrep.com
- Pay securely
- Get instant access to all content
Pricing: $20 One-Time Payment
New Updates will be available!
FOP & TAS: MRCPCH Part 1 Membership
- Complete exam-focused preparation program for MRCPCH Part 1
- Covers live + recorded RCPCH syllabus-based classes
- Includes clinical case discussions for better concept clarity
- Focus on neonatal & pediatric guideline-based problem solving
- Extensive recall-based MCQ practice for exam readiness
- Full guidance and support for exam registration process
Designed to simplify preparation and maximize success rate in MRCPCH Part 1 exam
