Audiology and Hearing Aid Services

Specialized Pediatric Test Procedures and Typical Age Ranges

  • Behavioral Observational Audiometry:  < 6 months
  • Visually Reinforced Audiometry:  6 months – 3 years
  • Conditioned Play Audiometry:  3 years – 5 years
  • Auditory Skill Development Assessment:  3 years — 5 years

Basic Audiologic Evaluation

  • Basic health and hearing history
  • Puretone air conduction and bone conduction audiometry
  • Speech Audiometry in quiet

Audiologic Monitoring

  • Annual or if symptoms worsen after noise exposure or over time
  • Puretone air- conduction audiogram
  • Otoacoustic emissions
  • Recommendation for Basic Audiologic Evaluation if significant change (> 10 dB change at 2 or more contiguous frequencies) from previous testing is detected

Complete Diagnostic Evaluation

Conducted at the audiologist’s discretion to better locate the site of dysfunction creating hearing loss for possible medical management of hearing loss.

Behavioral Evaluation

  • Detailed health and hearing history
  • Puretone air conduction and bone conduction audiometry
  • Speech Audiometry in quiet and background noise

Objective Physiologic Evaluation

  • Tympanometry:  tests the function of the eardrum and the ossicles (bones connecting the eardrum to the cochlea) conducting sound from the ear canal to the cochlea (the organ of hearing)
  • Acoustic Reflex Testing:  tests the transmission of sound along the auditory nerve (VIIIth Cranial Nerve) to the lower auditory brainstem
  • Otoacoustic Emission Testing:  tests the function of the cochlea, the active processes of the sensory cells for sound

*If one or more of the following factors are present, the audiologist will recommend a Complete Diagnostic Evaluation:  Hearing sensitivity or speech discrimination difference between ears, tinnitus heard more in one ear than in the other, conductive hearing loss, sudden hearing loss, or vertigo.

CAPD Evaluation:

  • Records review from outside professionals
  • Detailed health, hearing, and behavioral histories
  • Audiological Evaluation:  Behavioral and Objective
  • Behavioral assessment battery:  standardized tests of each auditory processing skill
  • Discrimination
  • Performance with competing acoustic signals
  • Localization/lateralization of sound
  • Temporal (timing) aspects of audition
  • Performance with degraded acoustic signals
  • Consult session with patient/family
  • Development of treatment and accommodation plan

*A Complete Diagnostic Evaluation will also be conducted if one has not been conducted within the past six months.

Auditory Training

  • Listening and Communication Enhancement (LACE):  Trains speech in noise, short term memory, auditory closure, competing talkers, and teaches communicative strategies to prevent and repair communication breakdowns
  • Dichotic Interaural Intensity Difference (DIID):  Trains listening to both ears when each ear is simultaneously receiving different information and alternatively attending to one ear while ignoring the other.  This is a customized program based on your auditory processing profile and bolsters listening to and understanding conversation in groups and background noise.
  • Auditory Discrimination:  Trains sound discrimination for differentiating spoken words to bolster listening in quiet, listening to rapid speech, and for foundations of reading development.   This is a customized program of one-on-one therapy and iOS and Android apps based on your auditory processing profile.  Auditory discrimination training is often utilized in conjunction with DIID sessions.

Hearing Aids:  New Patients

  • Communication Needs Assessment:  Conducted to determine the optimal solution for your hearing needs; consists of basic audiometry, if needed, baseline tests of hearing abilities including Speech-in-Noise testing, ear examination, and detailed assessment of communication needs, partners, and environments, technology selection including hearing aids, if needed.
  • Hearing Aid Fitting:  For new or previous hearing aid users who bring their own hearing aids to the clinic; includes hearing aid check, modifications, reprogramming, orientation and follow-up visit(s).  A Communication Needs Assessment may be performed to determine baseline hearing abilities and the best method for customizing device(s) to individual needs.

Ongoing Hearing Aid Service:  Existing Patients

  • Service appointment:  Periodic clean, check, maintenance, and in-office repair; recommended 2-4 times per year
  • Reprogramming appointments:  Adjustment to the sound or settings of your hearing aid if your prescription changes or if your listening needs/preferences change
  • Three year repair warranty (included with hearing aid purchase):  If an in-office repair is not possible, the manufacturer will repair the hearing aid at no charge for three years with a typical two-week turn-around
  • Out of warranty repair:  Manufacturer repair if an in-office repair is not possible