Detecting Hearing Loss in Children

If your child has any form of hearing loss, our highly skilled team of SSM Health Cardinal Glennon Children’s Hospital audiologists are here to help. We care for children ages 0-21 with mild to profound hearing loss. Our goal is to restore your child’s hearing so they can thrive in their everyday development.

In the US, approximately 3 out of every 1,000 children are born with a detectable level of hearing loss in one or both ears. Some children may also encounter hearing loss later in life. Depending on your child’s situation, hearing technology may be needed to improve your child’s hearing and access to speech and spoken language. Our audiologists will thoroughly evaluate your child’s condition and work with you and your family to develop the best plan of treatment.

Types of Behavioral Hearing Tests

Visual Reinforcement Audiometry (VRA)

Usually utilized with children up to 2 or 3 years of age. Various speech and sounds are presented through speakers and then reinforcements (puppets, light-up toys, etc.) are shown when a child looks in the direction of the noise.

Conditional Play Audiometry (CPA)

Usually utilized with children 2 - 7 years of age. Various games are played in response to hearing speech and noise through headphones.

Conventional Audiometry

This is a typical hearing test in which the child will wear headphones and raise their hand in response to speech and sounds.

Auditory Brainstem Response (ABR) Testing

ABR testing is used to assess your child’s hearing and identify potential hearing loss. An ABR test is used on infants or other children that cannot complete a traditional (audiometry) hearing test. To complete testing, electrodes (sensors) will be placed on the child’s forehead and behind the ears to detect how the child’s brain is responding to sounds at various pitches and volumes when presented through headphones. Testing time varies greatly, and a full test session can take up to three hours, depending on the child’s age, sleep state, and results. There are two ways in which an ABR is completed:

Non-Sedated

For babies under 6 months of age, the ABR test is usually completed during non-sedated or natural sleep.

Sedated

For babies over 6 months and children unable to complete a traditional hearing test, sedation may be needed to make sure they stay asleep during the entire test.