Audiology Services

Pediatric Hearing Test

The components of comprehensive pediatric audiologic assessments will vary depending on the child’s age and developmental ability. Read below to learn more about the various pediatric assessments offered at the Sheila Johnson Center for Clinical Services. 

• Newborn hearing screenings: Guidelines from the Joint Commission on Infant Hearing recommend that all infants receive a hearing screening by one-month of age. Most often, these screenings occur prior to discharge from the hospital or birthing center. The SJC provides this service for babies who have not been screened, who need to receive a second screening, or who need a follow-up screening due to known risk factors associated with hearing loss. 
• Auditory Brainstem Response (ABR) Testing: ABR testing allows us to estimate hearing levels of infants, children, or other individuals who are unable to participate in conventional testing. This test is commonly utilized for diagnostic hearing assessment up to 6 months of age. For this assessment, electrodes will be connected to the infant or child and earpieces will be placed within the ear canal. Various sounds will be played through the earpieces and the audiologist will measure the electrical response to these sounds through the electrodes. 
• Visual reinforcement audiometry: Children from 6 to 30 months may be tested in a sound-treated booth. The child will be seated with a caregiver and the audiologist will teach the child to look for a sound when it is presented. The child’s participation will be rewarded through engaging visual animations inside the sound-treated booth.
• Conditioned play audiometry: Children between the ages of 30 months and 5 years of age may be tested in a sound-treated booth. The audiologist will teach the child to engage in a play task whenever a sound is heard.  The play task may vary but examples may include placing a peg on a pegboard any time a sound is heard.