Audiology and Speech Solutions offers pediatric hearing tests in Rye, NY, and nearby locations.
Hearing loss can affect a child’s ability to develop communication, language, and social skills. The earlier children with hearing loss start receiving services, the more likely they are to reach their full potential.
Below are a few simple developmental milestones. If you feel your child isn’t exhibiting these behaviors, it may be worth coming in for a pediatric hearing test.
Birth to 3 months old
Your baby should react to loud sounds.
4 to 6 months old
Your baby should babble in a speech-like way and use many different sounds.
7 months to 1 year
Your baby should turn and look in the direction of sounds.
Your toddler should follow simple commands (“Roll the ball”) and understand simple questions (“Where’s your shoe?”).
Pediatric Hearing Tests: What To Expect
Pediatric hearing tests differ from traditional adult hearing tests. This specialized testing is designed to evaluate your child’s hearing abilities by using developmentally age-appropriate tasks.
As an expert in pediatric audiology, rest assured that your child’s hearing health is in good hands. From performing pediatric hearing tests, diagnosis, and evaluations to discussing treatment options, we make sure that your child is receiving the best hearing healthcare possible.
Our team at Audiology and Speech Solutions believes that early intervention plays a critical role in helping our pediatric patients achieve the best hearing possible for their speech and language development.
Otoacoustic emissions (OAE)
Otoacoustic emissions (OAE) allow hearing testing within the first days of life. Newborn screening is simple and painless, and it can make a significant difference in a child’s future. OAE screening procedures for newborns and infants do not require the baby to respond.
A miniature earphone is placed in the ear and sounds are played into the ear. After the sound is presented the equipment tries to identify a response similar to an echo. The normal ear responds with an echo that is picked up by the microphone. When a baby has hearing loss, no echo can be measured. About 10% of babies do not pass the hospital OAE screening. Newborns that do not pass the hospital screening are referred for a follow-up evaluation.
Although most babies will pass the follow-up hearing testing, it is very important to take your baby for this testing to ensure they get the help they need should a hearing problem be present. Initial hospital screening results can be impacted by factors such as: fluid or debris in the ear canal, fluid in the middle ear, or movement and/or crying during the test.
If your child does not pass the follow-up hearing test, they will then be referred for more in-depth audiological and medical assessment before three months of age. These assessments will verify the presence of hearing loss and help identify options for treatment.
Visual Reinforcement Audiometry
Once a child reaches the age of 6-7 months to 2+ years old, sounds are presented through a speaker or earphone, and the child is trained to look toward the sound. When the child looks at the sound, they are reinforced by a moving toy or a flashing light. As children mature they may be asked to point to pictures in a book, body parts (e.g. eyes, ears, nose, and fingers), or objects in the room.
Conditioned Play Audiometry
As children get older, instead of turning to a light or a moving toy, they can be taught to complete actions such as placing a toy in a bucket or completing a puzzle in response to sound. This helps us to get comprehensive results on young children by making our test feel like a game!
Hearing Aids for Infants & Children
If you suspect your child has hearing loss, you are not alone. The idea of having a child with hearing impairment can be scary and the process may seem daunting, but we have the resources to help you and your child. Our passion is to help our patients hear better. Advanced diagnostic examinations allow us to determine the best plan of action to improve your child’s hearing.
We know you likely have several questions about how to best help your child. What should you do if your child has special communication needs? What are the warning signs of hearing loss in children? We understand how you’re feeling and you can rest assured all of your questions will be answered when you visit us at Audiology and Speech Solutions.
We can help create a customized treatment and intervention plan for our pediatric patients by providing tools, such as hearing aids, for infants and children.
Pediatric Hearing Tests in Rye, NY
When it comes to hearing loss in children, early intervention is key.
Audiology and Speech Solutions can help parents and children get access to the best therapies for learning, growth, and development. Our team performs pediatric hearing tests to give parents peace of mind and allow children to have the best chance of receiving their ideal treatments and interventions.
Our expert audiologists can create a customized intervention plan to give children with hearing loss or hearing issues a better headstart in life.
Contact us today to schedule an appointment!