How do audiologists diagnose hearing loss in children?
Audiologists diagnose hearing loss in children using age-appropriate tests tailored to their developmental stage. For infants, objective measures like Otoacoustic Emissions (OAE) and Auditory Brainstem Response (ABR) testing are used, as they do not require active participation. For toddlers and older children, behavioral tests such as Visual Reinforcement Audiometry (VRA), which encourages head-turning toward sounds, and Conditioned Play Audiometry (CPA), which involves responding to sounds through play activities, are commonly used. Tympanometry may also be performed to assess middle ear function. These evaluations help determine the type and degree of hearing loss, enabling early intervention, which is crucial for speech and language development.