We have the technology to administer hearing screenings, even with newborn babies. However, a full diagnostic evaluation involves “behavioral” hearing testing where the patient is required to respond to auditory stimulation such as tones and speech. Babies and toddlers are not able to follow instructions to raise their hands when they hear the beep, so testing this age group requires a modified version called Visual Reinforcement Audiometry (VRA).
When a baby is six months old, their nervous system becomes fully developed and we can perform behavioral testing by presenting a tone or by speaking through headphones or a speaker, while simultaneously illuminating a visual stimulus. After presenting the visual and auditory stimuli together a few times, the child conditions to the task and will start to look for the visual stimulus on their own each time they hear the sound. The same type of practice is used to train animals. The problem therein lies when the child simply does not like the visual stimulation, which has historically been a toy bunny or monkey that is hiding inside a dark box that abruptly illuminates and the toys start playing drums or clashing symbols together. Many children are scared of the startling burst of entertainment or become bored and lose interest all together. Subsequently, it is not uncommon for the audiologist to obtain limited data, if any data at all.
We are happy to announce that we have upgraded to a video system where the images and videos are so captivating! There are approximately 50 different videos and each video runs a seven-second-clip displaying live animals, animated animals, bouncing balls, trains, vibrant paint splashing into the air, and all sorts of other moving colorful images. We also have 50 low-visual-stimulation videos illustrating moving shapes and edges with softer colors. The versatility addresses children who become easily bored to the child who may startle and become agitated.
By upgrading our testing equipment, the end result will enable us to obtain more accurate information regarding the child’s hearing. Given that hearing screenings at birth are only screenings, it is essential that varying levels and types of hearing loss are properly diagnosed at a young age. Furthermore, children are prone to ear infections and if their ears fill with fluid behind the eardrum area (middle ear), they cannot hear properly which can affect their speech and language development. The hope is that the child will tolerate and cooperate sitting through testing across a frequency pitch range from base to treble, and respond consistently and reliably. Now with our new video system, children will actually enjoy the hearing evaluation experience and allow us audiologists to complete a comprehensive diagnostic evaluation.