Many people are unaware that newborns to toddlers can have their hearing evaluated.  Good hearing is essential to social and intellectual development of infants and young children.  There are objective screening and diagnostic tests that can be performed on children of any age.  Audiologists provide hearing aids to this very young population as well.  For school age children, audiologists provide and help coordinate hearing services to the schools, to ensure the development of speech, language and learning skills in children with hearing problems.

Pediatric Hearing Evaluations 

Depending on the age and the level of interest of the child, a lot can be found out about their hearing without them having to raise their little hands when they hear the beep.  Play Audiometry is a fun way for your child to respond to sound, by throwing a block or building a tower, etc., one sound at a time.  If they are too little for that, Visual Response Audiometry can be performed, where toy animals light up when the child looks for the sound.  If all else fails, middle ear testing and Otoacoustic Emissions testing can provide good information without your child having to do much but sit still. (see Evaluation and Screening) 

As you well know, sitting still may also be asking too much. We will get what information we can without too much drama.  We don’t want the hearing test to be a negative or traumatic experience. Future testing may be needed to put all the pieces together.  If you think your child has a speech delay, or if they have had a history of ear infections, a hearing evaluation is strongly recommended.  They may have a mild hearing loss that is affecting their speech development but still allowing them to hear many sounds in their environment.  What may be normal hearing for an adult whose auditory system is fully developed, can be a significant hearing loss to a child. 

Newborn and Infant Screening

The hearing system can be evaluated as early as the day of birth.  People are often unaware of this.  In the office, we can assess an infant’s middle ears (tympanometry), their inner ear (otoacoustic emissions), and their auditory nerve reflex (acoustic reflex).  All they need to do is sleep or lie still. The testing can take as little as fifteen minutes.  Some of this testing is done at the hospital now, before the baby is released.  However, for those kids who fail the screening and need to be reevaluated, the testing can be done here in our office.  The testing is easy and very important.  The most critical time for speech and language development and the development of auditory processing skills is from birth to three years of age.  Early intervention is essential.