WHAT TO EXPECT
WHEN YOUR CHILD
HAS BEEN REFERRED FOR
A HEARING TEST



A GUIDE FOR PARENTS






Who will do the testing?

Testing may be done by an AUDIOLOGIST (a licensed healthcare professional) or an OTOLARYNGOLOGIST or OTOLOGIST (a medical doctor specializing in problems of the ear, nose and throat…also known as an ENT).

What will be done first?

All children will have:

▪ An examination of the ear looking for wax, infection or tubes in the
ear canal.
▪ A tympanogram* to check how well the eardrum is moving and if any
pressure or fluid is built up behind the eardrum.

(* A soft tip probe is put into the canal, and a print out shows the results. It does not hurt.)

What kinds of testing are there?

The hearing testing varies on age, skills, and results. These are the typical tests done for each age group:

Age 0-6 months

Otoacoustic Emission: (OAE….also may be called DPOAE or TEOAE) testing involves placing a tip in each ear canal. A sound is heard and a response is recorded for each ear on the computer. It can be performed at 2 loudness levels. It gives some frequency information. The baby needs to be asleep to record the response. The room needs to be quiet; parents can stay with the baby but friends and family need to wait in the waiting room. The test takes 45 minutes if the baby stays asleep. The results are known that day.

Auditory Brainstem Response: (ABR…also may be known as BSER, BAER, EAP, or EAR) testing is measured by putting 3 electrodes on the baby’s head. This test is more diagnostic than the newborn screening at the hospital. Each ear has an insert that records the response at various loudness levels. The results are displayed on the computer screen, and are given that day. The test takes 1 hour if the baby stays asleep, and the room also needs to be quiet.

These tests may require sedation, and may also be used with older infants and toddlers.

Age 7 months-3 years,

Behavioral Observation Audiometry: Children at this age respond noticeably to sounds and their name. The parent and child are seated in the sound booth together, and the child is observed by the audiologist. Speakers are used to call the child’s name, and sounds of different pitches and loudness are presented. When the child looks to the speaker, a toy will light up, and the parent will praise the child for looking. Depending on the child’s age and abilities, he/she may be asked to point to body parts or pictures, or asked to repeat words. The child may also wear headphones if tolerated.

Results

Test results and recommendations are given to the parent on the day of testing. Additional testing may need to be completed at another appointment. A copy of the results will be given to your service coordinator and your doctor.

For more information:
American Speech-Language-Hearing Association: www.asha.org/public
American Academy of Audiology : www.audiology.org

Outreach Services for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Children:
www.deaf-kids.org