Pediatric audiology is the study and treatment of hearing loss in infants, toddlers, and children. Our experts evaluate children of all developmental stages. Our goal is to detect hearing loss in children as early as possible. Since our audiologists work closely with our physicians, we can care for your child’s whole hearing health.
Hearing is essential for babies’ and young children’s development. It is especially important to treat deafness in children so that they can cultivate essential speech and communication skills during the developmental years. This is why we focus on early detection of hearing loss.
We recognize that children respond differently to testing and may have less ability than adults to focus or respond to stimuli. We therefore incorporate a more fun and caring approach with children.
For children old enough to follow instructions and respond to sounds, we use the following testing methods made to feel like games: visual reinforcement audiometry, conditioned play audiometry, speech audiometry (word recognition) and auditory processing testing. Physiological tests are used for infants who cannot respond to behavioral tests. These include otoacoustic emissions and acoustic reflex testing.
If you suspect hearing loss in your child, contact us at (479) 750-2080 for more information.