Audiology services and hearing tests for children
Children’s Minnesota audiologists have expertise in providing comprehensive audiology services to meet the unique needs of newborns, infants, children, and adolescents. Our audiologists provide diagnostic and rehabilitative services using specialized equipment and a variety of methods to match the age and developmental level of each child.
Our diagnostic services
Acoustic reflex testing
This test assesses your child’s auditory system’s reflex response to loud sounds. A small rubber tip is placed at the entrance of one or both ear canals, sounds are presented and an involuntary muscle contraction inside the ear is measured.
Brainstem audiometry (ABR)
This test evaluates how each ear receives sound and sends that information to the brain through the auditory nerve, without requiring a behavioral response from your child. Sounds are played into each ear at various loudness levels, and small electrode stickers placed on your child’s head measure the brain’s responses. These responses help determine the softest sounds your child can hear. This test is typically completed while your child is in a natural sleep or under sedation, depending on their needs.
Cochlear implant evaluation
A cochlear implant may be a treatment option for a child whose hearing loss is severe enough that they do not receive sufficient benefit from traditional hearing aids. A comprehensive evaluation is completed to assess your child’s hearing, auditory development, and benefit from hearing aids to determine whether they are a good cochlear implant candidate.
Appointments are coordinated with ENT, speech‑language pathology, and other developmental specialists as needed. These providers, together with your family and child, work as a team to determine cochlear implant candidacy and establish appropriate goals. Cochlear implant evaluations are performed for children from infancy through 18 years of age.
Conditioned play audiometry (CPA)
CPA is a test that allows an audiologist to measure a child’s hearing threshold levels. The child is taught to play a game, such as putting a peg in a board or stacking rings or blocks, each time they hear a beep or tone. The child can sit independently or on a parent’s lap in a sound booth for this test. This testing method is typically used with children ages 2.5 to 5 years.
Hearing aid evaluation
A hearing aid or bone conduction hearing device may be a treatment option for a child who has permanent or longstanding hearing loss. After a comprehensive hearing evaluation and a medical evaluation by a physician, your child can receive a hearing aid evaluation. During this appointment, the audiologist discusses different hearing aid devices, technology, and accessories, and works with your family to choose the hearing aid plan that best meets your child’s needs. This visit may also include taking an impression of your child’s ear to create a custom earpiece. Hearing aid evaluations are performed for children from birth to 18 years.
Otoacoustic emissions (OAEs)
OAEs are low‑intensity sound waves produced by the inner ear. An otoacoustic emissions test is used to assess how well the cochlea is functioning without requiring a behavioral response from your child. A small, soft earphone is placed in the ear canal, sounds are sent into the ear and a very sensitive microphone measures how the inner ear reacts to those sounds. This test can be completed while your child is sleeping or awake and quiet.
Speech audiometry
This test measures your child’s ability to understand spoken sounds. It can sometimes reveal a hearing impairment that other tests do not identify or measure effectively. Words or sentences are presented at the child’s most comfortable listening level to assess word‑recognition ability, or at very quiet levels to determine the softest level at which the child can begin to understand simple, familiar words. The child responds by repeating the words or by pointing to pictures or objects.
Standard pure tone audiometry
This test measures the quietest sounds a person can hear at different pitches, or frequencies. The child sits in a sound booth and presses a button or raises their hand each time they hear a beep or tone. This testing method is typically used with children ages 6 years and older.
Tympanometry
This test assesses the mobility of your child’s eardrum and the health of their middle ear by gently introducing varying air pressure into the ear canal. The child typically sits on a parent’s lap while a small rubber probe is placed at the entrance of the ear, and results are obtained within seconds. Tympanometry can help identify impacted earwax, middle ear fluid, eustachian tube dysfunction, eardrum perforations and the status of pressure equalization (PE) tubes.
Visual reinforcement audiometry (VRA)
VRA is a test that allows an audiologist to assess hearing in infants and toddlers too young for normal tests. The child is taught to turn their head each time they hear a sound and is rewarded for each correct response with a lighted toy or screen animation. The child sits on a parent’s lap in a sound booth and the sounds are presented through speakers or earphones. This testing method is typically used with children ages 5 months to 2.5 years.
Our rehabilitative services
- Comprehensive fitting and dispensing of hearing aids, bone conduction hearing aids, FM/DM systems, and accessories.
- Electroacoustic analysis of hearing aids, both real ear and test box.
- Cochlear implant evaluation and follow-up services.
- Custom ear molds, swim molds, and hearing protection.
- Consultation on audiology services for infants and toddlers to clinics throughout upper Midwest.
Coordination of care
Our audiologists also provide services as a part of the ENT and Facial Plastic Surgery Clinic and appointments can be coordinated as needed.
In addition, Children’s Minnesota audiologists perform exams through our interdisciplinary clinics, such as developmental pediatrics, velocardiofacial (VCF) clinic and cleft and craniofacial clinics, ear shape clinic and NICU follow up program. We collaborate closely with speech language pathology, physical therapy, occupational therapy, genetics, and other specialty services at our hospitals.
When is an audiology evaluation recommended?
- An infant has not passed newborn hearing screening or has not had newborn hearing screen.
- An infant does not startle to loud sounds or calm to softer sounds.
- An infant or child does not meet age appropriate milestones for hearing, speech, and language.
- A child has not passed a hearing screening at a well child exam or school screening.
- Parent, physician, teacher or caretaker has concern regarding the child’s hearing.
- If any of the following high-risk factors for hearing loss are present:
- Family has a history of hearing loss.
- Neonatal complications such as anoxia or severe respiratory distress.
- Neonatal infections such as CMV, rubella, toxoplasmosis, or herpes.
- Cranial-facial conditions such as Down syndrome, cleft lip or cleft palate.
- History of bacterial meningitis .
- Use of ototoxic medications.
Locations for audiology services
We provide audiology services at all five of our locations, conveniently located throughout the metro area.
To discuss the best place to start, please call us: 612-874-1292
