Audiology Services

Who is an Audiologist?

An audiologist is a trained professional who provides services to prevent, diagnose, evaluate, and manage auditory, vestibular, and related impairments. 

The overall goal of an audiologist is to optimize the ability of an individual to hear and to communicate in his/her everyday environment.  This includes providing information and guidance to family and friends of persons with hearing impairment.

Audiology Services

Pediatric ENT Associates offers a wide range of diagnostic audiology services for patients from birth to 18 years of age.

• Otoacoustic Emission Testing (ages birth to adult). Assesses the functioning of the cochlea or inner ear without requiring a behavioral response from the person being tested. 
• Visual Reinforcement Audiometry (ages 5 months to 2 ½ years). The child is taught to turn his or her head each time he or she hears a sound and is rewarded for each correct response with a lighted, animated toy.  The child sits on the parent's lap in a sound booth and the sounds can be played through soundfield speakers or headphones depending on the child’s cooperation.
• Conditioned Play Audiometry (ages 2 ½ -5 years). The child is taught to put a peg in a board or to stack rings/blocks each time he or she hears a beep or tone.  The child can sit independently or on a parent's lap in a sound booth and wears headphones for this test. The child may also be asked to point to pictures upon prompting. 
• Conventional Audiometry (ages 5 years and older). The child sits independently in a sound booth and presses a button or raises a hand each time he or she hears a beep or tone.  The child may also be asked to repeat a list of words or point to pictures upon prompting.
• Tympanometry (birth to adult). Assesses the middle ear system including the eardrum and the bones attached to the eardrum.  A small, rubber probe is introduced into the ear canal and measurements are made within several seconds. 
• Hearing Aid Evaluation and Fitting (birth to adult). Children identified with hearing impairments that warrant amplification can be scheduled for the evaluation and fitting of hearing aids and/or other assistive listening devices.  

This information is provided as a service to our patients. The information is for educational and informational purposes only and should NOT be used as a substitute for the advice of your child's physician.