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Failed Hearing Test

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Your child’s hearing is a crucial component of the development process. It affects their social, emotional and cognitive skills and plays a major role in language and speech development. A hearing loss can have a big impact on your child’s learning ability, but if the problem is caught early, it can be treated. 

Pediatric Hearing Loss  

Hearing loss is a fairly common birth defect, affecting two to three out of 1,000 babies. But even if your baby fails the initial hearing screening, it doesn’t necessarily mean that a hearing loss exists. Two to 10 percent of newborns in the U.S. fail their first hearing screening, and of those, less than one percent have permanent hearing loss; follow-up screenings often come back normal. A failed hearing test can be the result of crying and fussing during the exam or a buildup of fluid or debris in the ears. 

Older children, too, can have a failed hearing test for several reasons. Fluid in the ear or excess wax can negatively affect the results. It’s best to have a trained audiologist perform a hearing test in a clinical setting in order to be sure.

Newborn having hearing examined
Child playing with blocks and wearing headphones

Pediatric Hearing Tests 

There are several different hearing tests that an audiologist can administer, based on your child’s age, development and health. These include: 

  • Auditory brainstem response (ABR) test. Clicking sounds are transmitted through earphones, and electrodes measure the auditory system’s response. This test is usually done on infants and children who are uncooperative through behavioral testing. 
  • Otoacoustic emissions (OAE) test. Pulse-type sounds are delivered through a probe in the ear canal, and the “echo” response from cells in the inner ear is recorded. 
  • Tympanometry. Soft sounds and air pressure are introduced in the ear canal to measure movement of the eardrum. 
  • Middle ear muscle reflex (MEMR). A rubber tip is inserted in the ear canal, and a series of sounds that should trigger reflexes are delivered through the tips. 
  • Behavioral Testing. Headphones or speakers are used in a sound booth to measure the child’s ability to hear tonal and speech sounds. Depending on the child’s age and developmental abilities, behavioral testing can be completed using: 
  • Visual Reinforcement Audiometry (VRA). This technique is often used with toddlers who can turn to sounds. When the child turns in the direction of a sound, a visual image is presented to keep the child engaged in the task. 
  • Conditional Play Audiometry (CPA). The technique is mainly used with preschool children in the form of a game. The child places an object into a container when a sound is heard. 
  • Conventional Audiometry. This technique is used with older children who can raise their hand or press a button when they hear a sound. 

If your infant or child fails any of these hearing tests, solutions are available to assist their growth and development.