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Bringing your child for a hearing test can be intimidating, especially if you’re unsure what the process involves.
At Beacon Audiology, we understand these worries. Our fully qualified paediatric audiologists utilise advanced skills and sophisticated equipment to perform highly accurate assessments on children of all ages. We assess the entire auditory pathway, ensuring we get a complete picture of your child's hearing status.
The Specialist Tests Used at Beacon Audiology
A full paediatric hearing assessment at our clinic involves a series of non-invasive, age-appropriate tests tailored specifically to your child.
Objective Tests (No Child Co-operation Required)
These tests are crucial for young children and infants, as they require no active behavioural response:
Tympanometry (Ages 0+): This quick test assesses middle ear function. It determines if there is abnormal air pressure, the presence of fluid (like glue ear), a perforation or issues with grommets.
Otoacoustic Emissions (OAE) (Ages 0+): This test assesses the integrity of the outer hair cells in the cochlea (inner ear). A small probe tip is placed in the ear, and sounds are presented. The cochlea’s response is recorded in just 20-30 seconds, quickly ruling out the possibility of hearing loss.
Auditory Brainstem Response (ABR/BSER) (Ages 0+): This is a safe and painless screening test that assesses the auditory pathways and brainstem function. It is often performed while the child is asleep and uses electrodes and insert earphones to record neurological responses to sounds presented.
Behavioural Tests (The "Fun" Assessments)
These tests require the child's participation and are adapted to their developmental stage:
Visual Response Audiometry (VRA) (Under 2 years): The child’s response to sound is reinforced with a visual reward (like a fun, animated toy). This allows us to obtain accurate thresholds and plot an audiogram, even for children who will only tolerate free-field or insert earphones.
Play Audiometry (Over 2 years): The test is turned into a game where the child responds to sounds (presented via earphones) with the use of toys or games, allowing us to determine hearing thresholds and plot an audiogram.
Speech Audiometry (Over 2 years): We determine the softest level at which your child can hear and discriminate words. We use minimal word pairs (e.g., tree/key, plate/plane); children with normal hearing should be able to distinguish these words at a very soft level, confirming the results of the pure-tone assessment.
Pure-tone Audiometry (Over 5 years): Used to determine the softest sounds a child can hear, typically via earphones, ensuring accurate responses are obtained.
Our dual-qualified Paediatric Audiologists and Speech and Language Therapists ensure that your child is not only assessed using the best methods but that the results are understood within the context of their communication development. Early diagnosis, even of a mild hearing loss, is crucial for early intervention.
If you would like to schedule a paediatric hearing assessment for your child before they start school, or at any age, please contact our clinic today to speak with one of our paediatric audiologists.