audiology Telethon Speech & Hearing offers a full range of audiology services. Our experienced audiologists supervise the audiological management of all the children in our programs. We also offer private audiology services to children of all ages. Our centre has been specifically designed for hearing-impaired children and is fitted with acoustic door seals and audio grills. Our audiology suite is equipped with sound booths and a range of sophisticated testing equipment. To contact Audiology directly, phone 9387 9831. Testing Hearing In Children Ear Clinic WISH (WA Infant Screening for Hearing) Program Ear Bus

Testing Hearing In Children

The type of test used depends very much on your child's age and how readily they co-operate. Your child may need a combination of tests. The following are commonly-used hearing tests for children:

• Otoscopic Examination (all ages) - involves looking into the ear canal with a light to enable the audiologist to clearly see the ear canal and ear drum. This can show the presence of wax and foreign objects.

• Tympanometry (all ages) - measures the movement of the ear drum and how well the middle ear conducts sound into the inner ear. This test is done on children of all ages. It helps identify middle ear problems like Eustachian tube pressure problems and fluid ie. Otitis Media (glue ear). This test is quick and simple to perform and only requires that your child sit still for a few seconds. Children have a tympanometry test in combination with the other age appropriate hearing tests.

• Otoacoustic Emissions (OAE) Testing (all ages) - tests the inner part of the ear. It involves placing a tiny probe in the outer part of your child's ear canal; the probe makes a soft clicking sound that causes parts of the inner ear to move. This movement is picked up by a sensitive microphone in the probe. The testing only takes a minute to complete and will not disturb your child in any way. Newborn babies are often tested using OAE's before they leave the maternity ward. If your child has already had an OAE test, please tell our staff if making an appointment and bring the test results along to your appointment.

• Automated Auditory Brainstem Response (AABR) (all ages) - tests hearing by measuring response from hearing nerves. Small sticky tabs are used on the nape of neck, shoulder and forehead and a soft clicking noise is heard. An ABR (Auditory Brainstem Response) is also available which is a manual form of the AABR test. This is a more complicated test which is used to predict exact hearing thresholds for those that don't pass the AABR test.
  
  OAE's and AABR's are usually done on babies 8 months and younger, and OAE's are for children who are not co-operating with other testing. To test babies successfully with OAE or AABR, children have to be extremely still and quiet, or asleep. We suggest you do not let your child sleep before the appointment. When you arrive, be ready to feed your child and put them in their carry basket or car capsule to sleep. You should arrive for your appointment early so your baby can be settled in time for the test. When testing older children, they only need to sit still for a few seconds.  

• Behavioural Observation Audiometry (BOA) (0 to 7 months) - involves recording how your child responds to different sounds. We use "noisemakers" that make sounds of different pitches and loudness levels. This gives the audiologist a good picture of how your child is responding to different sounds.
  
  Some responses we expect to see during testing may be a startle, eye blink or eye widening, or even just your child becoming still when the sound is presented. This gives valuable information in how your child responds to sound. This tells us how your child's sound pathway is working.
  
  Your child will need to be awake for this test but settled.

• Conditioned Oriented Response (COR) (8 months to 3 years) - involves your child being taught to respond to a sound by turning in the direction of the sound. We do this by showing them a toy and making a sound at the same time. Once your child is conditioned, they will turn automatically when the sound is presented alone, without the toy. They will then be rewarded by the toy being displayed.
  
  Your child needs to be alert and settled for this test to be successful.

• Play Audiometry (2.5 to 5 years) - involves teaching your child to respond to sound by taking part in a game. For example, placing blocks in a bucket, beads on a string or a similar activity. For this test your child wears headphones.
  
  You can help prepare your child for this test by having them wear headphones at home. Some children can be a little unsure about wearing headphones, so if they are used to them, testing will be easier.

• Pure Tone Audiometry (5 years onwards) - involves the child listening to sounds through the headphones and pressing a button, raising a hand etc. when they hear tones.

• Speech testing (all ages) - tests how a child responds, not only to sound tones, but also to speech. This is a very useful form test. Speech material can be incorporated into the hearing test for any age group. Speech testing may involve your child turning to single sounds like "m", "d" or "s", or for older children repeating words or sentences.

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Ear Clinic

At the clinic, a doctor holds ear clinic sessions in which he examines children's ears and treats any problems detected. During his assessment, the child will have a hearing test by an audiologist. No referral is required to see the clinic doctor.

If the child has an ear problem that requires them to be seen by an ENT surgeon, the doctor can arrange for them to be seen by the ENT surgeon who visits the Centre.

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WISH (WA Infant Screening for Hearing) Program

Telethon Speech & Hearing offers a hearing screening test for all babies born at 7 private hospitals. For further information, go to the Newborn Hearing Screening section of our website.

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Ear Bus

The ear bus travels to primary schools, kindergartens and child care centers providing a free check-up service to children. For further information, go to the Ear Bus section of our website.

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