Hearing loss is becoming more common because of the prominent use of electronic devices such as ipods, phones, and video game devices. Noise pollution is also increasing in our daily lives. Many parents don’t realize that hearing loss in children is a growing problem as well. In order to check your child for hearing loss, you should have your child’s hearing tested once a year with an audiologist. There are several types of hearing tests available to children. Pediatric hearing tests detect hearing problems in children in an easy and painless way.
All children from newborns to teens can be tested for hearing loss. Hearing tests for babies include the ABR and OAE. Hearing tests for babies are painless and babies usually sleep through them.
Hearing tests for children include the standard hearing screening or Pure Tone Audiometry test. Other hearing tests for children include speech discrimination testing and immitance testing. The Pure Tone Audiometry test determines the level at which the child hears sounds at different frequencies. The speech discrimination test determines how well the child is able to hear and understand speech. This pediatric hearing test aid in the detection of problems beyond the hearing nerve and also determines how well a hearing aid can help the child. Immitance testing evaluates middle ear function by testing how well the eardrum and middle ear bones move therefore detecting the location of a hearing problem.
Auditory Brainstem Response (ABR) Testing for Infants
An Auditory Brainstem Response (ABR) is a hearing test that measures the brain’s response to sounds. ABRs are often used for infants or children who cannot give verbal or behavioral responses to sounds they hear. The ABR uses small stickers that are placed on the skin of the head and headphones that are placed in each ear. The infant must remain sleeping for the duration of the test. An audiologist interprets the responses that are measured and determines the child’s level of hearing in each ear. An ABR test can last between 30 minutes and 2 hours and is not painful for the child.
Hearing Evaluations for Children
A hearing test for a child is often not as simple as a hearing test for an adult. For this reason, audiologists are trained in specific techniques to evaluate the hearing of a child. Toys, games, and lights are used in the testing room to help obtain responses from a child to soft tones, noises, or words. The child may wear headphones or listen to the sounds in a room with speakers.
Pure Tone Audiometry (Standard Hearing Test)
This test determines the level at which a person detects sound at different frequencies.
Speech Discrimination Testing
This test determines how well speech is understood. This test is very helpful in determining if problems exist beyond the hearing nerve and gives insight as to how well hearing aids can help.
Immittance Testing
This procedure evaluates middle ear function by assessing how well the eardrum and middle ear bones move. This test is very useful in determining the location of a problem.
Otoacoustic Emissions (OAE)
These tests measure the health of the inner ear, the hearing nerve, and the function of the cochlea.
Auditory Brainstem Response Testing
This is an objective neurological function test to estimate hearing levels in difficult-to-test patients. It also measures how well sound is transmitted from the hearing nerve and received by the brain.
Cochlear Implant Mappings
Mapping is the term used for programming a cochlear implant. Cochlear implant maps are set based on an individual’s response to sound through the cochlear implant device.
Auditory Processing Disorders (APD)Testing
This is for children with learning difficulties and memory issues who have problems (following directions and exhibit behaviors which interfere with auditory comprehension). The exam determines whether there is a processing breakdown along the path as auditory signals pass from the ear to the brain. We also offer coping and rehabilitative strategies.