Audiology

As many as three out of every 1,000 babies born in the United States each year have some degree of hearing loss. No child is too young to have his or her hearing evaluated. Hearing loss is an invisible disability and that is why all newborn babies should have a hearing screening before leaving the birth hospital.

Hearing well is a crucial part of a child’s social, emotional, and cognitive development. Even a mild or partial hearing loss can affect a child’s ability to speak and understand language. It is important to have a child’s hearing screened at birth and on a regular basis throughout life. Advances in technology have helped pediatric audiologists reduce the age at which hearing loss can be identified, thus enabling prompt and appropriate treatment.

A child's hearing should be tested immediately if there are any risk factors for hearing loss, including family history of hearing loss; ear, head or neck malformations; head trauma; history of anoxia or infection at birth; history of the use of ototoxic medications; recurrent ear infections, or speech and language developmental delays.

Changes in a child's hearing (listening to the television at high volume, talking loudly, or not responding when their name is called, for example) are also cause for a hearing evaluation.

Nemours locations offer a range of audiologic services. Please refer to the sites listed to the left for specific services available at each location.