Pediatric Audiology Services

Tympanometry involves a soft probe inserted into the ear canal to assess the eardrum’s movement at different sound pressures. This test can reveal certain mechanical issues (ex: an eardrum not moving well) that impede hearing and may respond to medical intervention.

The audiologist places a small microphone in the child’s ear canal. A computer sends clicking sounds into the ear and records the inner ear’s responses to the sounds. This test reveals the integrity of hearing up to the inner ear. Results may indicate a need for further evaluation.

The audiologist presents soft clicking sounds through small earphones while the child is asleep. A computer connected to electrodes that have been placed on the child’s head measures brain activity in response to the sounds. An ABR yields an estimated degree of hearing loss.

Before infants can sit and turn their heads unassisted, audiologists use BOA to determine degree and type of hearing loss and plot the results on a graph called an audiogram. One audiologist presents sounds at various frequencies and intensities through inserted earphones or speakers. A second audiologist observes the child’s reactions (ex: eye widening, cessation of sucking).

For children who can sit up and turn their heads but have yet to control impulsivity in play, audiologists use VRA to determine the degree and type of hearing loss. The audiologist teaches the child to turn toward a visual stimulus when he or she hears a sound, then marks the sounds the child can hear, with and without device/s, on a chart called an audiogram.

For children who can understand turntaking and waiting to respond to sounds, audiologists use CPA to determine the degree and type of hearing loss. Before testing, the audiologist teaches the child to perform a task (ex: drop a toy in a bucket) when he or she hears a sound. Then the audiologist plots the sounds the child can and can’t hear on an audiogram.

For children mature enough to reliably respond independently to sound, audiologists use conventional audiometry typically used with adults. In response to each sound heard through inserted earphones or speakers, the child pushes a button or raises a hand. The audiologist plots the results on an audiogram.

CID audiologists use various methods to measure, track and describe progress in a child;s acquisition of speech audibility skills. For example, the CID-developed Early Speech Perception Test (ESP) is a picture- and toy-based test for children as young as 3 years old who are profoundly deaf. Audiologists may use the ESP to establish objectives and to measure the impact of a hearing aid or a cochlear implant on a child’s speech perception ability.

Our audiologists account for all of the data generated by tests to recommend an appropriate hearing device or combination of devices, including sophisticated digital hearing aids, cochlear implants and bone conduction hearing aids, for a child’s hearing profile.

Our audiologists fine-tune each hearing device to fit each ear’s specific audiologic needs, particularly ensuring the child gains optimal access to all the sounds of speech.

At our onsite lab, as needed as children grow, our audiologists measure for and make hearing aid earmolds precisely to fit each ear canal so the students are comfortable and hear optimally.

Parents who bring their children in for hearing testing often have lots of questions. Our experienced CID audiologists are here to help. We talk through the audiogram, devices and longterm implications of being diagnosed as deaf or hard of hearing.

To maintain all-important access to sound, CID loans hearing technology such as hearing aids, cochlear implant external equipment, bone-anchored processors, retention items and classroom DM systems to our birth to school-aged children. This loaner program is available through generous donors, grant funding and personal family device donations. Loaner use of devices covers situations such as fitting devices while insurance/early intervention authorizations are pending, during repair/replacement time periods and while trialing new or different technologies.

Some repairs can be done on-site, often within minutes. Earmold issues are typically addressed on the same day as reported, sometimes with new impressions taken and sometimes with the help of temporary molds.

CID can help people acquire needed equipment such as batteries, accessories and devices.