Pediatric Evaluations (6 months and older)
If you suspect your child has a hearing problem, our team at Biltmore Audiology & Hearing Aid Center offers pediatric hearing evaluations for children aged 6 months and older. During these evaluations, our team of audiologists will test your child’s ability to hear pure tones and calibrated speech through headphones. How we accomplish these tests depends on the child’s age. We may ask them to raise their hand when they hear a noise or do some other type of physical movement. For younger children, we may need to watch their physical responses to sound such as a head movement or eye blink, etc.
Pediatric Hearing Tests
There are other tests that may be recommended in order to check your child’s hearing:
- Tympanometry test to look for middle ear problems (such as an ear infection) and test the function of the eardrum
- Middle ear muscle reflex test to measure how well this muscle reacts to loud noise
- Auditory brainstem response test to measure how well the auditory nerve is interacting with the brain
- Auditory steady state response test to determine the level of hearing loss
- Central auditory evoked potential test to further measure how well the auditory nerve is interacting with the brain
- Otoacoustic emissions test to check the functioning of the inner ear (cochlea) and determine if sound messages are going through to the brain
These tests allow us to diagnose your child with a degree of hearing loss ranging from mild to profound. We can also determine if your child has conductive or sensorineural hearing loss – or a combination of both.
- Conductive: a correctable form of hearing loss caused by something inside the ear that is blocking sound travel such as earwax, fluid buildup, infections, etc.
- Sensorineural: caused by genetics, exposure to loud noises, illness or ear development, this form leads to damage of the inner ear or nerves inside the ear that cannot be corrected by surgery or medications. A hearing aid may be necessary.
Symptoms of Hearing Loss in Children
The symptoms of hearing loss in children will vary depending on their age. Here are some warning signs:
- No reaction to loud noises
- Delay in speech
- No reaction to noises from toys, music, etc.
- Television or music is turned up loud
- Poor grades in school
- Child doesn’t listen to your instructions
- Baby doesn’t smile or make babbling noises in response to your voice
- Your child has been diagnosed with ADHD
- Complaints of ear pain
- Lip reading when talking to others
- Difficulty hearing in noisy environments
It’s very important for your child’s development that any level of hearing loss be addressed as soon as possible. Our audiologists in Phoenix will do everything we can to set your child up for success in school, speech and social situations.
You Have Questions: We Have Answers
When you come in for your appointment, we’ll cover commonly asked questions about child hearing tests in Phoenix. We are trained to help answer such questions as:
- Does my child need a hearing aid?
- What hearing aids are best for kids?
- Why can’t my child hear?
- Is deafness hereditary?
- Is my child ignoring me or hard of hearing?
- And many more
Our team at Biltmore Audiology & Hearing Aid Center is ready to help you learn more about your child’s hearing. Contact our office today at (602) 956-1250 or click here to request an appointment.