Hi crystal87,
It might work to your benefit to familiarize yourself with typical electrophysiological measures of hearing. Specifically, otoacoustic emissions and the auditory brainstem response are widely used in the assessment of newborn hearing. Newborn hearing screening is also now mandatory by most state laws although I'm not sure what state you're in and of course there could be some exceptions.
Generally the method involved is to administer the [automated] ABR and OAE tests to establish baseline values to monitor hearing status. Comprehensive evaluation should be conducted with the aid of a pediatrician, otolaryngologist, genetic counselor, and opthalmologist in addition to the audiologist to provide early intervention when necessary. Generally speaking, you're trying to identify risk factors for hearing loss and acquire benchmarks and quality indicators with regard to hearing status (screening, identification, and intervention).
Most places I've seen adopt a 1-3-6 rule. Hearing screening by 1 month of age, audiologic and medical evaluations before 3 months of age, and intervention by 6 months. Additionally, if you deal with babies in the NICU generally I've seen that they prefer the ABR instead of the ABR+OAE protocol, but your place might be different. This is because the ABR test is much more sensitive and specific to issues involving kernicterus, hyperbillirubinema, and other disorders including but not limited to auditory neuropathy [spectrum disorders].
There's a couple books if you get really interested in the specific electrophysiological measures commonly used on newborns that I'd recommend.
Jim Hall has a good book called "New Handbook for Auditory Evoked Responses" and gives a thorough overview on all topics related to electrophysiological testing in a general sense, but not specific to newborns/ babies/ children.
ISBN-10: 0205361048 | ISBN-13: 978-0205361045
For a more general review on hearing testing specifically for the pediatric population (newborns to older kids) I'd recommend the Northern and Downs text, "Hearing in Children"
ISBN-10: 0683307649 | ISBN-13: 978-0683307641
If you want something more general I'd absolutely recommend the Stanley Gelfand book, "Essentials of Audiology" because it's so easy to read. It's like, bedtime reading it's written in such a digestible tone!
ISBN-10: 1604060441 | ISBN-13: 978-1604060447
I wish you the best of luck in your endeavors and hope that you can touch families lives in a positive and meaningful way!
