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How Hearing is Tested A hearing
test identifies your child’s ability to hear certain tones. In addition to a visual examination
of your child’s ears, the audiologist may select one or more methods to test your
child’s hearing depending on your child’s age and co-operation.
Test |
When |
Description |
| Otoacoustic emissions (OAE) |
Newborns and infants |
Very weak signals are recorded from the cochlea when it is stimulated by audible sounds. Children with
normal hearing produce emissions: an absence of emissions indicates loss of hearing. |
| Auditory brainstem response (ABR) |
Newborns and infants |
During this test the audiologist will place electrodes on your child’s head in order to record brain
wave activity in response to sound. |
| Visual reinforcement audiometry (VRA) |
6 months to 2 years |
Your child will be encouraged to look towards a sound source and will be “rewarded”
through a visual
reinforcement, such as a teddy bear that lights up and plays a drum. |
| Conditioned play audiometry (CPA) |
2 to 4 years |
Your child will be asked to perform an activity (such as throwing a block in a pail
or putting a peg
in a board) each time he or she hears a sound. |
| Conventional audiometry |
Older children |
Your child will be asked to raise his or her hand or press a button when he or she
hears a sound. |
In
addition to the tests described above, which are based on tones, the audiologist may conduct speech
understanding tests that ask your child to listen to and repeat words and sentences. Your child's
age and interest in cooperating will determine which of these methods is the best approach. Remember,
performing a hearing test, especially on smaller children, can take time. Often several tests are needed
to define the precise degree of hearing loss. Additional tests will also take place after your child
receives his or her hearing aids to ensure the settings are appropriate.
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