Diagnostic Audiology Program

What is a Behavioral Audiological Evaluation?

A Regular (Behavioral) Audiological Evaluation measures degrees of hearing for different tones. This kind of hearing test helps answer: "What do we hear?"

This test is conducted as a listening game that is played in a sound-treated room to find out whether your child can hear soft sounds at all of the important levels for hearing spoken words clearly.

How is the test performed?

The type of listening game will be chosen according to your child's age and abilities:

• Visual Reinforcement Audiometry observes head-turning responses to sounds, rewarding the responses with a lighted toy.
   
• Play Audiometry shows your child how to respond to sounds with a play task such as placing a block in a bucket after hearing the sound.

Older children can respond to sounds during the test by raising a hand or pushing a button, and by repeating words.

What should I bring to the appointment?

• Insurance cards
• Referral number (if your insurance plan requires a referral for audiological evaluations)

How long does a behavioral evaluation take?

Behavioral audiological evaluations take approximately one hour.