Pediatric Audiology Overview

Pediatric Audiometric Diagnostic Guidelines
All procedures refer to each ear individually; the numbers below represent the order in which the assessments are completed during testing.
- Pediatric case history: Screening information, significant medical history, family history of hearing loss, and any parental concerns.
- Otoscopic evaluation: Observation of the outer ear and external ear canal as feasible.
- Tympanometry: Information regarding middle ear status; high frequency probe tone should be used in children 6 months or younger. Include acoustic reflex testing.
- Otoacoustic emissions (OAE): Can assist in diagnosing normal or abnormal hearing sensitivity, middle ear status, or neural dysfunction.
- Auditory brainstem response (ABR):
- Click-evoked ABR at 80 dBnHL Evaluates neural integrity and function; absolute, interpeak (I-III-V), and interaural latencies along with waveform morphology to evaluate neural integrity; reversal of signal polarity to help identify site of pathology.
- Click-evoked ABR threshold search Estimated hearing sensitivity at 2-4 kHz. c) Low and high frequency (tone burst) ABRs Estimated hearing sensitivity at both low and high frequencies; information can assist in selecting and fitting a hearing aid when one is warranted.
- Auditory steady state response (ASSR): Provides further frequency-specific information; used to cross-check with the click-evoked and tone burst ABR results.
Additional procedures
If any of the above procedures indicate disorder, additional procedures that need to be completed are:
- Pediatric case history: More comprehensive than may have been done initially.
- Bone-conduction ABR/ASSR: Establishes the type of hearing loss.
Follow-up procedures
When there is an indication of disorder, the follow-up procedures below need to be conducted at intervals recommended by the pediatric audiologist. The procedures below are appropriate for children who are 6- 8 months of age or older and not exclusive to additional follow-up procedures and/or recommendations identified by the pediatric audiologist.
- Visual reinforcement audiometry (VRA): Hearing thresholds to confirm the physiological air-conduction and bone-conduction findings above. thresholds or pure tone thresholds
- Tympanometry: Evaluate middle ear status; low-frequency probe tone may be used with children older than 6 months of age.
Contact Details
To make an appointment at the CDC+ Audiology Clinic call (307) 237-4477 or visit CDC+ Audiology online.
The clinic is located at Child Development Center, 2020 E 12th St, Casper, WY 82601 (https://www.cdccasper.org).
Don’t hesitate to contact the Wyoming EHDI Program if you have questions or concerns regarding your child’s hearing health. You can call our office (307-721-6212) or email us at info@wyomingehdi.org.
The Wyoming EHDI Program’s partnership with the CDC is made possible, in part, through a federal grant from the Health Resources Service Administration/Maternal and Child Health Bureau.
Affiliate Clinic
The Wyoming EHDI Program works closely with the University of Wyoming Speech and Hearing Clinic in Laramie, Wyoming. Newborns, infants, toddlers, and preschoolers (as well as older children) will receive age-appropriate hearing evaluation and management through this clinic. Click the link below to visit the Speech and Hearing Clinic’s website.
University of Wyoming Speech and Hearing Clinic