Our pediatric services include hearing evaluations, treatment, hearing protection, hearing aids, implants and speech therapy for infants and children. We use age-appropriate testing and tailor care to each child’s needs. For younger children we focus on speech and language development; for older children we prioritize clear hearing for success in school. We support both the child and the family throughout care.
What will my child’s hearing test be like?
Pediatric hearing tests are non-invasive and give detailed insight into the degree and cause of a hearing loss and the treatment options. They go beyond newborn screening to help us understand a child’s hearing more fully.
Birth to 6 months
Tested while your baby sleeps
- What happens
- Soft sounds play through tiny earphones while small sensors measure how the inner ear (otoacoustic emissions, OAE) and the hearing nerve (auditory brainstem response, ABR) respond.
- What your child does
- Nothing at all. These tests work best while your baby sleeps or rests quietly, and they don’t hurt.
- How you can help
- Ask us how to time the visit around a nap or a feeding. A sleepy, fed baby makes testing easier.
6 months to 2 years
Turning toward sounds
- What happens
- Visual reinforcement audiometry (VRA): sounds play from speakers or small earphones, and each time your child looks toward one, a toy lights up or moves.
- What your child does
- Looks toward the sound and gets something fun to watch as a reward.
- How you can help
- Your child usually sits on your lap. Stay quiet and still, so the sounds (not you) catch their attention.
2 to 5 years
A listening game
- What happens
- Conditioned play audiometry: we teach your child a simple game, like dropping a block in a bucket, to play every time they hear a sound.
- What your child does
- Plays along. Every beep is another turn.
- How you can help
- Talk about it ahead of time as a listening game, and read our kids’ corner together before the visit.
5 years and older
Headphones on, hand up
- What happens
- Much like an adult hearing test: your child listens through headphones for soft beeps and repeats words, so we can see how clearly they understand speech.
- What your child does
- Raises a hand or presses a button for each beep, and repeats the words they hear.
- How you can help
- Tell us about any speech, school or attention concerns. They help us choose the right tests.
At any age: tympanometry, a quick and painless check of how the eardrum moves, can show whether fluid behind the eardrum (common with ear infections) may be affecting hearing. Ages are a guide; we choose tests for each child, and many visits use more than one.
Sources: Types of Hearing Tests (ASHA’s CHSA) (opens an external website) · NIDCD, Ear Infections in Children (opens an external website)
Ear infections and hearing
Ear infections are one of the most common reasons parents take a child to the doctor. Five out of six children have at least one by their third birthday.
Source: NIDCD, Ear Infections in Children (opens an external website)
Fluid that stays behind the eardrum can muffle sound and affect hearing, which matters most while a child is learning to talk.
Signs to watch for
- Tugging or pulling at the ears
- Fussiness, crying or trouble sleeping
- Fever, especially in infants
- Fluid draining from the ear
- Clumsiness or balance problems
- Trouble hearing quiet sounds
How we help
We check how the eardrum and middle ear are working (tympanometry) and test your child’s hearing. The results help you and your pediatrician or an ENT decide on next steps, which may include watching and waiting, medicine, or ear tubes when infections keep coming back.
Speech and language delays
When a child’s speech or language is behind, hearing is one of the first things to check.
Children learn to talk by hearing the speech around them, so even a mild or temporary hearing loss can make some speech sounds harder to catch. We can test hearing at any age, explain what the results mean for your child’s development, and help you find speech-language support when it’s needed.
Hearing at school
Classrooms are noisy, and children with hearing differences can miss a lot of what the teacher says. We help you understand what your child’s hearing means for the classroom, and which supports to ask the school about.
- A remote microphone system: the teacher wears a small microphone that carries their voice to your child’s hearing device or to a speaker.
- Seating near the teacher and away from noise, such as fans and hallways.
- Captions and written instructions for videos, assignments and announcements.
- Daily listening checks to make sure hearing devices are working.
These supports can be written into your child’s individualized education program (IEP) or 504 plan, and your school’s educational audiologist can help. Bring your school questions to your child’s appointment.
Source: ASHA, Helping Children Who Are Hard of Hearing at School (opens an external website)
Newborn hearing screening
Newborns are screened for hearing before leaving the hospital. Most have typical hearing, but about 2 to 3 in every 1,000 babies in the United States are born with a detectable hearing loss in one or both ears.
Source: NIDCD, Quick Statistics About Hearing (opens an external website)
The screening is a simple pass/fail test. If a baby doesn’t pass, further evaluation by an audiologist is needed. Early detection is key: babies who receive intervention by 6 months often develop strong language and learning skills.
Pediatric hearing loss
Hearing loss can be present at birth or develop during childhood. Causes include genetics, certain medications, frequent ear infections, loud noise exposure and head injuries. Some cases may not be reversible.
Signs vary with age and developmental milestones. Early support — hearing aids, implants, therapy or sign language — can greatly improve brain development, communication and learning. Cochlear implants are FDA-approved for eligible children beginning at 9 months of age.
Source: NIDCD, Cochlear Implants (opens an external website)
For our youngest patients
Kids’ corner
What happens at a hearing test?
A kid-friendly look at a visit — great for reading together before the appointment.
Say hello
You’ll meet a friendly audiologist in a room made for kids.
Play listening games
You might turn toward a sound, or play a game each time you hear one.
Tiny microphones and naps
A soft ear tip can check how your inner ear answers sounds — and some babies simply rest while special stickers listen to the hearing nerve.
You did it!
Grown-ups talk about the results, and you’re done.
Hearing aid coverage for children
California’s Hearing Aid Coverage for Children Program (HACCP) offers hearing aid benefits for eligible children. Learn what the program covers and where to find official applications and eligibility rules.
Explore children’s coverageSupport for the whole family
Family resources
Communication options, therapy, local resources and the Ling Six Sound Test.
Speech & hearing milestones
What to look for from birth to 8 years.
Listen Through Literacy
Building confidence through listening, reading and learning.
Common questions
- What ages do you see?
We care for patients from newborns to seniors, and use age-appropriate testing for babies, young children and school-age kids.
- Do you offer newborn hearing screenings?
Yes. Our practice offers newborn screenings using auditory brainstem response (ABR) testing, which measures how the hearing nerve responds to sound. If a baby doesn’t pass a screening, further evaluation by an audiologist is needed.
- What tests are used for children?
Depending on age, visual reinforcement and play audiometry (listening games), otoacoustic emissions (OAE) and auditory brainstem response (ABR). All are non-invasive.
- Can ear infections affect my child’s hearing?
Yes. Fluid that stays behind the eardrum can muffle sound and affect hearing. We check how the eardrum and middle ear are working (tympanometry) and test hearing, so you and your pediatrician or an ENT can decide on next steps.
- Can you help with my child’s needs at school?
We help you understand what your child’s hearing means for the classroom and which supports to ask about, such as a remote microphone system or seating near the teacher. These can be written into an IEP or 504 plan.
- How can I prepare my child?
Read our kids’ corner together before the visit, and ask our team how to prepare your child for the appointment.
- Is there help paying for children’s hearing aids in California?
California’s Hearing Aid Coverage for Children Program (HACCP) offers hearing aid benefits for eligible children.
Questions? We’re here to help.
Connect with our team for guidance about your care or your family’s next steps.
