• I think my child has a hearing loss, what do I do?
• Can I make a self-referral to your office?
• Will my insurance cover a hearing test?
• At what age should my child began to respond to sounds?
• My child is only 15 months, how do you test a child so young?
• What is the Auditory Brainstem Response (ABR) evaluation?
• How is the ABR evaluation performed?
• What if my child’s hearing aid is not working?
• What if my child’s hearing aid is making a squeaking sound?
• What if my child loses his/her hearing aids?

I think my child has a hearing loss, what do I do?

If you suspect that you child has a hearing loss, you need to contact your child’s physician to refer your child to an audiologist for an evaluation. Back to top.

Can I make a self-referral to your office?

No, your physician must make a referral to our office prior to scheduling an appointment.  Back to top.

Will my insurance cover a hearing test?

Most insurance policies will cover the cost of an audiologic evaluation. However, you must contact your insurance to verify coverage. Back to top.

At what age should my child began to respond to sounds?

Children are unique and will respond to sounds differently. However, you can review our speech and hearing checklist. Also speak with your child’s medical practitioner with further concerns. Back to top.

My child is only 15 months, how do you test a child so young?

There are different ways to test young children. Please review our Types of Audiologic Evaluations. Back to top.

What is the Auditory Brainstem Response (ABR) evaluation?

An Auditory Brainstem Response Evaluation (ABR) is a type of test, usually performed for infants and young children, that evaluates how well sounds travel along the hearing nerve pathways from the ear to the brainstem. There are two main types of hearing loss:

• Conductive hearing loss -- problems transmitting sound from the outer ear (where sound is collected) to the inner ear.
• Sensorineural hearing loss -- problems with the nerves connecting the inner ear to the brain. In the inner ear, tiny hairs on the cochlea act as a neural pathway, transmitting through the inner ear. Usually, problems with these hairs on the cochlea are responsible for sensorineural hearing loss. It is usually permanent and present at birth.

An ABR test, by evaluating the hearing nerve pathways, can identify cases of sensorineural hearing loss. The ABR compares changes in brain activity to the timing of repetitive sounds to determine whether the particular intensity of sound can be heard. Back to top.

How is the ABR evaluation performed?

There will be three or four small stickers (electrodes) on your child's head, connected to leads going into a computer. Sounds will be presented through an earphone to each ear separately while a computer analyzes the changes in the brain wave pattern in response to sounds.

Your child should be sleeping for the duration of the test. Children under the age of four months are not usually sedated, and the test is performed while the infant is naturally sleeping. Children over the age of four months are usually sedated by pediatric anesthesiologists. The test is not painful or uncomfortable in any way, but it is necessary for your child to be asleep in order to obtain clear recordings during the test.

For non-sedation ABR, the parents will be allowed in the room with your child during the test, and the results will be explained following completion of testing.   Back to top.

What if my child’s hearing aid is not working?

If your child’s hearing device is not working, you may mail or bring the hearing aid to our office during business hours.  Back to top.

What if my child’s hearing aid is making a squeaking sound?

If you child’s hearing aid is making a loud squeaking sound, your child may be in need of new earmolds. Please contact our office at (916) 733-1914 to schedule an appointment for earmold impressions. Back to top.

What if my child loses his/her hearing aids?

Most of our hearing aids are covered under a loss and damage warranty for 1-2 years (depending on the make and model). After the warranty period you my purchase an additional warranty at Midwest Hearing Industries, Inc. Back to top.