Pediatric Audiology

Our approach to pediatric audiology care

• Visual reinforcement audiometry: Hearing levels are established by using animated toys or computer-generated images to train your baby to locate sounds presented through calibrated loudspeakers and/or earphones. Most often used with infants who are developmentally over 6 months of age and young toddlers.
• Conditioned play audiometry: Children are taught to “play a game” while responding to calibrated sounds through earphones or calibrated loudspeakers. Typically used with older toddlers, young children, or an older child who needs a “fun” task to stay interested in listening.
• Speech audiometry: Assesses the softest level an infant or child is able to detect or recognize speech and, when developmentally appropriate, how clearly a child hears speech in quiet, and sometimes, in noise.
• Select-a-picture audiometry: Standardized picture pointing tests are available to assess how softly and/or clearly a child hears speech for children who are not ready, or too shy, to repeat words.
• Traditional audiometry: Children who are developmentally over 5 may be trained to press a button or raise their hand when they hear a sound.
• Auditory brainstem response audiometry: Recommended for anyone developmentally under 6 months of age and older infants and children when additional data is necessary that cannot be obtained via more traditional procedures.

• Tympanometry: A soft tip is placed in your child’s ear briefly to check for possible problems affecting the ear canal, eardrum or middle ear system that may not be detected by routine ear check or otoscopy, such as “silent” middle ear fluid.
• Acoustic reflex measures: Used with tympanometry, small reflexes from your child’s ear may be measured in response to certain sounds, providing additional information about the function of your child’s ear and hearing.
• Distortion product otoacoustic emissions: A soft earphone placed in your child’s ear will play sounds to the ear over several minutes. A healthy ear will respond by producing its own soft sounds that are picked up by the microphone in your child’s ear. DPOAEs can provide information about possible range of hearing but do not measure hearing.
• Otoscopy: A quick ear check is important to identify any obvious ear health concerns and to assure that wax blockage or a foreign object is not present.

• Hearing aid evaluation and assessment: A hearing aid evaluation can provide answers to several questions specific to your child’s hearing loss and listening needs, including:

  • Will my child benefit from amplification?
  • Does my child need one or two hearing aids?
  • What hearing aid style is best for my child?
  • What features are important for a child?
  • What accessories are needed or desired?
  • What are the benefits and limitations of amplification?

• Assistive listening device (fm/dm) selection and assessment: Children with hearing loss or auditory processing disorders typically benefit from the use of assistive technology in the classroom where it is difficult to hear the teacher optimally due to competing noise. Our audiologists will make recommendations for specific equipment based on your child’s hearing loss, school placement and use or non-use of amplification.

• Evaluation of auditory rehabilitation status: For infants and children with hearing loss, our audiologists will assess auditory skills and function before or after the use of amplification to help determine an appropriate plan of intervention.

• Auditory/aural rehabilitation: For infants and children with hearing loss, our audiologists may provide therapy or training to improve auditory perception, communication strategies, language skills and/or assistance with management of hearing aids and assistive devices.

• Young Musician’s Program: Does your child play an instrument? Sing or play in a band or orchestra? Our young musician’s program monitors hearing and auditory function to identify potential problems early and provide specific instrument recommendations for hearing conservation and protection.