Your child's quality of life and development vitally depends on hearing. Hearing helps your child learn to read, to appreciate music and to receive warnings of approaching harm.  Without good hearing, your child will have difficulty coping with many of life's challenges.

        Many modern methods are used to accurately determine the hearing levels for newborns, infants and children.  A comprehensive hearing evaluation can be completed at any age if you have ANY suspicion that a hearing problem exists. Trust your instincts:  research has shown that when parents suspect a hearing problem, they are correct about 70% of the time!

        A case history and otoscopic examination are essential.  An audiological evaluation can help determine if a hearing loss exists in one ear or both ears at frequencies (pitches) that are critical to normal speech and language development.  The evaluation also helps determine if any hearing loss is conductive (potentially medically treatable) or sensorineural (usually permanent and not medically treatable).

       Here are some of the audiological procedures that may be included in evaluating your child's hearing:

• Conventional Audiometry. In this type of hearing test for children, the audiologist presents speech sounds and pure tones at different pitches and loudness levels.  The child is required to respond to the softest tones heard and to repeat words (or point to pictures of words).
• Behavioral Observation Audiometry (BOA).  In this type of hearing test for infants, the audiologist closely observes your infant's behavior and facial expsressions  to determine when he or she hears sounds that are presented through speakers.  The audiologist is well-trained to recognize such behaviors which might include changes in sucking patterns, widening of the eyes, or searching for the source of the sound.  This type of test must be used in conjunction with other supporting tests.
• Visual Reinforcement Audiometry (VRA).  In this type of hearing test for infants and young children, the audiologist directs your child's attention toward a toy that lights up and moves when the child looks in response to a sound.  This type of test is typically used for infants and children ages six months to two years.
• Play Audiometry.  During this test, the audiologist teaches your child to respond with some play action, such as putting blocks in a container or building a chain, whenever he or she hears a sound.
• Tympanometry.  This test measures the movement of the eardrum and the ability of the middle ear to conduct sound to the inner ear.  It is usually performed along with otoacoustic emissions and/or acoustic reflexes (see below).  For more information on tympanometry, click here.
• Acoustic Reflexes.  In a normal-hearing ear, the stapedius muscle in the middle ear contracts in response to loud sounds presented at levels of about 70-100 dB (decibels).  In this test, the audiologist presents tones at these levels and determines whether the child has an acoustic reflex and what level of sound is required to produce the reflex.  For more information on acoustic reflexes, click here.
• Otoacoustic Emissions (OAE).  With this test, a probe in the ear canal measures sounds created by the inner ear in response to sounds presented by the audiologist.  If the response is absent, a hearing loss may be present.  For more information on the OAE, click here.
• Auditory Brainstem Response (ABR).  For this test, sensors are pasted and taped on the child's head to measure and record the brain's direct response to sound.  Because the child does not have to actively response to the sounds, it's often used with infants and very young children.  It can even be done when the child is asleep.  For more information on the ABR, click here.