How is a pediatric hearing test conducted?
Pediatric hearing tests are designed to assess the hearing abilities of infants and children. Depending on the child's age and developmental stage, different methods may be employed. For infants, a common test is otoacoustic emissions (OAE), where a soft probe is placed in the ear canal to measure the response of the inner ear to sound. Another method, auditory brainstem response (ABR), involves attaching electrodes to the child's skin to record electrical responses to sounds presented through earphones. For older children, behavioral tests like play audiometry or visual reinforcement audiometry may be used. Play audiometry involves the child responding to sounds through play activities, while visual reinforcement audiometry uses visual cues to reinforce responses to auditory stimuli. Pediatric hearing tests are typically conducted in a child-friendly environment by audiologists trained to work with children, ensuring accurate and comprehensive assessments of their hearing health.