Sedated ABR

Hey Steph. The hearing issue is common in babies that were born via C-section. As long as she passed by the state's standards, then I would wait it out.

Ask your pediatrician LOTS of questions about the procedure and if they feel it is really necessary at this stage of the game. Maybe also consider getting a 2nd opinion from a different audiologist when she is a bit older.

In the meantime, try to observe if she is responding to noise or auditory stimuli on her left side, for example, hand clapping or calling out to her.

Best of luck!

I know nothing about this procedure. The question I have is this. If there is something wrong, can they do something about it?? I guess I think of hearing as being something you either have or don't have for the most part. If this is strictly to find out if there is a problem and then it is "oh well, at least we know now", why not wait a few months until she is gonig longer between feedings and it won't be so traumatic for her? This is something to ask because doctor's tend to order a bunch of tests even on babies that don't necessarily have to be done right away, if at all. When my son was born, he had a hermangioma (birth mark)just under his right eye. They ordered a CAT scan to make sure it wasn't pushing on his optic nerve. We did it and it was a horrible experience (the putting in of the IV mostly). Ask for a NICU nurse to do the IV because they are very experienced with it. A regular nurse stuck my son 3 times before they called one in and she did it perfectly the first time. I don't regret doing this, because it showed us he was fine. However, the doctor wanted us to do this to him every 3-6 months until he was two years old! We said no way to that, didn't want to expose him to all that radiation. The mark stopped growing at 6 months and by two years was almost completely gone. You do have to have a filter when it comes to doing everything your doctor recommends, so I hope other moms can help you more with this question. Good luck!

I don't know anything about the procedure, but I'd have a lot of questions if it were my child! The doctor has "concerns" and "recommends" follow up, but they always do that--especially specialists.

What is the risk if you don't do it? It seems like your daughter should have enough hearing to develop speech, which I believe is the major concern at that age. Can the re-do the unsedated one? What are the risks of the Chloral Hydrate? Can you wait until she's old enough to talk and understand and then deal with this?

Really, I could write for another hour about moms (especially with their first child) who have been scared by doctors and had everything turn out fine. I would just want to know what the risks are of doing the test and of not doing it. YOu might really have to pin the doctor down or get a second opinion, but it would be worth it to me, especially if sedation were involved!

Good luck with everything!