Babies that have just been born are screened for potential problems in hearing through the use of two quick tests that are painless. The first is the automated oto-acoustic emissions test, AOAE, which takes just some minutes and is able to be done when the baby is sleeping. There is placement of a small earpiece in the ears of the baby after which quiet sounds get played through it. This is one form of hearing test Etobicoke residents can consider.
If the ears are functioning properly in the AOAE test, there will be production of reflected sound in the cochlea. The sounds are transmitted to a computer for analysis. In the event that there is no clarity of the results, either the test is done again or a different one is used. The test may fail if the baby is not settled in their sleep or the background has some noise. Another reason for its failure could be temporary ear blockage.
There is the automated auditory brainstem response test, AABR, in which three very small sensors are placed on the neck and head of the baby. Soft headphones are put over the ears of the baby and quiet sounds played. The analysis of sounds is done by a computer. For older children, there are other tests that are used.
An example of a test for older children is the visual reinforcement audiometry, VRA. The child sits on the laps then sounds are played from speakers. If they move toward the sound, some toy is lit as a form of reward. Varying the pitch and loudness helps to know the least sound the child is able to hear at each pitch. For the separate testing of every ear, small earphones will be used. The test works for children of between 6 months and 3 years old.
For the case of pure tone audiometry, an audiometer is used to generate sounds at varying volumes. The sounds that are played via headphones as the kid is told to show some response whenever the sounds are heard. The response can be for example pressing some button. Through reduction of sound level, the least sounds that can be heard by the child will be worked out.
The technique works for children of three years and above. It helps to screen hearing ability of a child before he or she starts school. When play audiometry is used, children will be asked to perform simple tasks whenever they hear sounds played from headphones. They could for instance be asked to move toys whenever they hear a sound.
Ability of a child to recognize words that are heard without seeing lip movements of the person can be assessed through the speech perception test. Words used can be played from headphones or said directly to the kid without showing movements of the lips. The kid identifies a word through picking matching pictures from a list.
The testing technique used will mostly depend on the age of a child. Hearing tests are also done on grownups. Adult testing techniques are different.
If the ears are functioning properly in the AOAE test, there will be production of reflected sound in the cochlea. The sounds are transmitted to a computer for analysis. In the event that there is no clarity of the results, either the test is done again or a different one is used. The test may fail if the baby is not settled in their sleep or the background has some noise. Another reason for its failure could be temporary ear blockage.
There is the automated auditory brainstem response test, AABR, in which three very small sensors are placed on the neck and head of the baby. Soft headphones are put over the ears of the baby and quiet sounds played. The analysis of sounds is done by a computer. For older children, there are other tests that are used.
An example of a test for older children is the visual reinforcement audiometry, VRA. The child sits on the laps then sounds are played from speakers. If they move toward the sound, some toy is lit as a form of reward. Varying the pitch and loudness helps to know the least sound the child is able to hear at each pitch. For the separate testing of every ear, small earphones will be used. The test works for children of between 6 months and 3 years old.
For the case of pure tone audiometry, an audiometer is used to generate sounds at varying volumes. The sounds that are played via headphones as the kid is told to show some response whenever the sounds are heard. The response can be for example pressing some button. Through reduction of sound level, the least sounds that can be heard by the child will be worked out.
The technique works for children of three years and above. It helps to screen hearing ability of a child before he or she starts school. When play audiometry is used, children will be asked to perform simple tasks whenever they hear sounds played from headphones. They could for instance be asked to move toys whenever they hear a sound.
Ability of a child to recognize words that are heard without seeing lip movements of the person can be assessed through the speech perception test. Words used can be played from headphones or said directly to the kid without showing movements of the lips. The kid identifies a word through picking matching pictures from a list.
The testing technique used will mostly depend on the age of a child. Hearing tests are also done on grownups. Adult testing techniques are different.
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