BERA for children

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What BERA is

BERA measures how the hearing nerve and the hearing pathway in the brainstem respond to sound. Small sensors are placed on the skin, and soft sounds are played through earphones or small inserts. The equipment records the response automatically.

Because it does not ask the child to speak, press a button, or tell us what they heard, BERA is especially useful for:

• newborns and infants who cannot take a normal hearing test;
• young children who cannot yet respond reliably;
• children who have failed a newborn or school hearing screen;
• children referred by a developmental paediatrician, ENT or other doctor;
• children being checked alongside speech and language concerns.

A newborn hearing screen is a first check, not a diagnosis. BERA is what tells you what is actually happening.

Why families come to us for it

• Same-day report. Testing and report are completed on the same day, generally within about 30 minutes ``. Most places make a family wait for a report. For a worried parent, that wait is the hardest part.
• Performed at a real audiology premises, by a Master's-qualified audiologist ``, on equipment suited to children.
• A doctor referral is welcome, and a non-referred enquiry is welcome too. If a doctor has sent you, we will report back to them.

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What it costs

We would rather be straight about that than match a lower price and make you wait.

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What happens on the day

1. You book an appointment. ``
2. We prepare your child. BERA is easiest when your child is calm and, for infants, sleepy. We will tell you exactly what to do beforehand — the timing and feeds matter. ``
3. Sensors are placed. Small stickers on the scalp and forehead; soft earphones or inserts. ``
4. We record the response. The equipment measures automatically while your child rests.
5. We give you the report the same day, and explain what it shows in plain language.
6. We report to your doctor where a referral was made.

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For doctors who refer

If you are a developmental paediatrician, ENT or other clinician, BERA is one of the reasons to refer to us: a dependable, child-appropriate test with a same-day written report, back to you quickly. We do not pay referral commissions — the report stands on its own.

See For referrers for services, turnaround and a direct contact.

The therapy that may follow

Cornerstone also provides speech and language therapy, so for some children the support that follows a hearing result sits within the same organisation. `` We will explain honestly what is and is not joined up.

Book a BERA test

• Secondary: Request a callback — if you have a question about your child first.
• Doctors: Refer a patient — direct line or email to the named coordinator ``