Audiology and Hearing

An estimated three out of every 1,000 babies born in the United States each year have some degree of hearing loss. Even a mild hearing loss can affect a child’s ability to speak and understand language, as well as his or her social, emotional, and cognitive development.

Nemours audiologists use state-of-the-art technology and special testing techniques to assess a child’s hearing sensitivity. They can evaluate hearing at any age, beginning at birth. Testing will determine if the child has a hearing loss, as well as the nature of that loss. When audiologists do identify a hearing loss, they make appropriate recommendations for the earliest possible intervention and care.

We are dedicated to finding the best solutions to address each individual child’s hearing impairment. We’re committed to counseling and educating families so that they may serve as confident advocates for their child in every setting. We provide specific treatment recommendations, which may include at-home or school-based therapies, or Early Intervention services. We can also offer guidance about and referrals to agencies and educational programs that may be helpful to your child. We look forward to forming close relationships with our patients and monitoring their progress over time.

For children diagnosed with hearing impairment we provide:

• prescriptions for hearing aids and other assistive devices
• cochlear implant programming and audiological monitoring of implant performance
• auditory-verbal therapy sessions to maximize the benefits of cochlear implantation
• counseling for families regarding adjustment to hearing aids and cochlear implants
• instructions on the use, care, and maintenance of amplification systems
• a specialized program for children with auditory neuropathy spectrum disorders
• facilitation of the mainstream process, including teacher and peer education sessions and recommendations for classroom equipment and modifications

In addition to our work with children with hearing loss, Nemours audiologists also help diagnose and develop treatment plans for children with auditory processing disorders (APD). Children with APD can't process the information they hear in the same way as others because their ears and brain don't fully coordinate. APD is diagnosed through very specific testing, though usually not before age 8 or 9. Children with the disorder often benefit from speech therapy, in which they learn coping strategies and techniques to help them compensate for their auditory processing challenges.