Guide For Hearing Tests for Children

Toddlers are frequently screened for possible hearing loss before they leave the hospital but if your child shows any signal that he or she may have a problem with their hearing then you should ensure that the hearing of your child is correctly tested. There are many types of hearing tests for infants. The type of test used to assess a child's hearing. The type of test also depends on the cognitive function and the age of the child.

There are two ways of hearing testing for infants which is known as behaviorally and electro physiologically. Behavioral observation assessment (BOA) testing is executed with the help of an audiologist. Audiologist is specially trained to detect an infant's bodily reactions to sound which is the child's cessation of activity, body movement, eye widening, eye opening and change in sucking rate.

The Auditory Brainstem Response (ABR) is an electro physiologic test. ABR test is used as supplementary method to assess hearing. ABR testing is just like Otoacoustic Emission (OAE) testing. ABR and OAE tests are generally conducted when the child is sleeping because both the tests are performed only when there is no any active response from the child.

If your child is getting older then the capability of responding to sound grows. If the age of your child is between six to seven months then generally your child turn toward the source of sounds. At the age of six to seven months your children can tested using either earphones or in a sound booth using speakers. Sounds used for hearing testing usually include low to high pitch tones which are integrated in the normal speech range. Turning toward the source of the sound is reinforced with the help of a lighted toy and this style of testing is known as visual reinforcement audiometry (VRA). VRA testing is normally perfect in determining a child's hearing levels.

 The technique which is known as conditioned play audiometry is used to test the hearing when the age of your children is between two and three years. During this test or technique earphones are placed on the child and they are conditioned to play various games when the test tone is heard. Standard audiometry testing is another type of conditioned play audiometry technique which is used with older children and adults. The method of this technique or testing requires the person to elevate their hand or to press an answer button when they can listen to the test tone.