Our children’s service is provided by our specially trained audiologist, whose professional approach will ensure that you and your family receive the highest standard of clinical care.
You may choose to self-refer to this service if you think your child has a hearing loss, but we also accept referrals from GPs and specialist consultants.
As part of this service, we offer a range of diagnostic children’s tests at some of our key locations. We routinely test children from the age of three years.
Different tests
The audiologist will take a detailed case history of your child’s health and general development and discuss your concerns. A hearing assessment will be carried out and will involve a series of objective and subjective tests. The tests performed will depend on your child’s age.
Objective tests use techniques that measure the function of the ear or hearing nerve pathways. These do not require a response from your child to show that they have heard the sound.
Subjective tests use techniques where the audiologist records your child’s response to sound. As your child develops, the audiologist will assess their hearing using behavioural tests, toys and play as part of the assessment. Older children are asked to respond to sounds by pressing a button.
Detailed results
If your child is facing challenges with listening and processing information, but the hearing assessment ruled out hearing loss and other causes of listening difficulties, our audiologist may suggest further assessment for auditory processing difficulties/disorder (APD). APD affects how our brain interprets sound rather than how sound is carried through the ear to the brain, affecting the ability to learn, follow directions, read and engage in conversation.
For the assessment of APD we offer the test battery SCAN-3:C Tests for Auditory Processing Disorders for Children, suitable for children between the age of five and 12 years (inclusive).
We will thoroughly explain all results and any questions you may have can be answered during the appointment. You will receive a report approximately a week later detailing all results and outcomes of the appointment. When appropriate, a management plan that helps you to manage your child’s listening difficulties and ear health day-to-day will also be provided.
If you are worried about your child’s hearing then get in touch with us to make an appointment with our specially trained audiologist.
Ring 0800 028 6179 or email admin@hearbase.com
