At Clear Choice Hearing and Balance our Audiologists are well trained to help identify hearing loss early so as to avoid any preventable speech delays, particularly those with special needs.
Auditory Processing Disorder (APD) in children can cause speech and language delays, impede learning, and disrupt interaction with others. It can often be a symptom in children diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder, Sensory Processing Disorder, ADHD/ADD, and Down Syndrome. In addition, the sensitivity to stimulation that often accompanies these diagnoses can make testing extremely difficult in a traditional, often-crowded clinical setting. At Clear Choice Hearing and Balance, we are the only audiology practice in Rochester with an interactive mural specifically designed to keep children calm and relaxed before testing.
PEDIATRIC TESTING AND PROTOCOLS PROVIDED
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- DPOAEs are responses generated when the cochlea is stimulated simultaneously by two pure tones.
- Initial newborn hearing screenings use DPOAE testing to determine if a child needs further hearing evaluations.
- To perform a DPOAE test, the audiologist with place a probe in the patient’s ear. The probe will emit a series of tones. The results will be either: pass or fail.
- The test will take 2-3 minutes. The more quiet the patient is, the faster the test can be completed.
- VRA is a behavioral test for evaluating hearing in toddlers and children too young for normal hearing evaluations.
- Lighted toys are placed 90-degrees to each side of the child to “train” the child to look toward the direction of the sound that is presented by the audiologist. The audiologist reduces the intensity of both the sound and visual stimuli until she determines your child’s minimum hearing threshold. She will continue using different pitches in both ears until the audiogram is complete for your child.
- This test is best used with children 6 months- 3 years old.
- CPA makes a game out of the hearing test. The audiologist will provide an activity for the child to participate in to respond to the stimuli that is presented.
- Blocks, balls, pegs, rings, and tablet games are used to elicit a response.
- CPA is a behavioral test for evaluating hearing in children from ages 2-5 years old.
- During a Tympanometry test, an audiologist inserts a pressurized probe into your child’s ear. It measures the ear drum’s response to changes in pressure.
- Tympanometry is often used to detect the presence of otitis media.
- A normal result means there is normal middle ear mobility. Meaning, measurements are normal and the eardrum is moving normally.
- An abnormal tympanogram may reveal the presence of fluid in the middle ear or a perforation in the tympanic membrane (ear drum). It can also show such things as an excessive wax build up or scarring from frequent ear infections.
An audiologist will first perform otoscopy using an otoscope to visualize the ear canal and ear drum. If wax is impacted or the ear drum is not visible, the audiologist will use a light up curette to visualize and safely remove the wax.
- Central auditory processing is how your brain responds to what your ears hear. Children who have difficulty with auditory processing usually have normal hearing, but often have difficulty hearing in background noise, difficulty remembering instructions, and difficulty understanding people when they speak quickly.
- CAPD can be performed on children 6 years and older.
- If your child is diagnosed with ADD/ADHD please keep them on their medications for this testing.
We provide children with the most up to date hearing technology. Working with the proper hearing aid manufacturers for your child. Hearing is important to education. We will work closely with the child’s pediatrician and educators to be part of a team effort to provide the child the best opportunity for success.
