Children's Audiology (Hearing) Service

Different types of hearing tests:

• VRA (Visual Reinforcement Audiometry) from around 6 months - 30 months of age.
  Sounds of different frequencies and levels are played through either speakers or earphones. The child is taught to turn their head every time they hear a sound where they will then be presented with a visual reward.
• Play Audiometry - from around 3 years of age.
  This techniques relies on conditioning (teaching) your child to complete an action in response to hearing a sound. The Audiologist will ’play a game’ initially presenting a sound and guiding/asking your child to place a peg on a board or a  similar action. It can be useful if you are able to prepare your child for this by playing ’Ready, steady, go’ games at home prior to the appointment.
• Pure Tone Audiometry - from 5 years onwards.
  Your child will be asked to press a button in response to a sound and to listen for the quietest sounds they can hear.
• Tympanometry.
  This involves placing a small probe in the ear. The child will feel a gentle change of pressure in the ear. This gives us information about movement of the ear drum and the status of the middle ear It is a test often used to help diagnose a common condition in young children called glue ear.
• OAE (Otoacoustic Emissions)
  This involves placing a probe in the ear and measuring responses from the inner part of the ear(cochlea) in response to a sound. This can be affected by wax or middle ear dysfunction. It does require the child to be asleep or very still and quiet.
• ABR (Auditory Brainstem Response) This test involves sensors being placed on your child’s head and measures the brain’s response to sound when different frequencies are played through earphones/headphones. This test is performed primarily on newborn babies as it requires the child to be asleep. For some babies/young children, one of our doctors may speak to you about using Melatonin to help your child to sleep in order for the testing to be completed.