Are You Concerned About Your Child’s Hearing?
We share your worries and concerns when you suspect that your child is not hearing well or struggling to communicate. We’re also concerned about making sure the process of diagnosing and treating your child’s condition is as easy and stress-free as possible.
Every step of the hearing test process is designed to be friendly, welcoming, and relaxing for you and your child, allowing for greater accuracy, helping provide the best possible solutions, and ensuring that your child keeps a smile on his or her face throughout the process.
Pricing
Invest in Your Child’s Hearing Health
Your child’s hearing plays a vital role in their speech, learning, and social development. A professional pediatric hearing assessment is the first step in ensuring they have the support they need to thrive.
Our comprehensive pediatric hearing evaluations provide detailed insights into your child’s hearing health, helping to identify any concerns early and ensuring they receive the right solutions for their unique needs. With gentle, expert care and advanced testing, we’re here to help your child listen, learn, and grow with confidence.
Complete Hearing Assessment
$75
For children 5 years of age and older
An assessment from our hearing expert are a professional and comprehensive evaluation of your hearing health, which includes the following:
Full review of your hearing health background
Current hearing device performance check
Pure tone air conduction testing, speech testing, word recognition scoring, and bone conduction testing
Otoscopy to observe: ear wax, infections, abrasions, growths, perforations of the ear drum, or other obvious disorders
Central Auditory Processing Assessment
$350
For ages 8-50
With expert analysis, a comfortable testing environment, and a comprehensive report with personalized recommendations, we provide the insights you need to improve your hearing and communication skills.
Thorough case history
Complete hearing assessment
Central auditory processing test battery
A comfortable and supportive testing environment
Comprehensive report and recommendations
Follow up as requested
Common Types of Hearing Loss That Effect Children
Otitis Media
Otitis media is the most common cause of hearing loss in children, involving inflammation of the middle ear, just behind the eardrum.
It typically involves a buildup of fluid in the Eustachian tube between the middle ear and the back of the throat, which is both smaller and less angled than it is in adults and can be blocked more easily.
The fluid buildup leads to “conductive” hearing loss, which blocks sound from being conducted through the inner ear to the brain. Infectious otitis media is often easier to detect since an earache and fever are often involved. Arnold Hearing Centres, Hearing Health Clinics in Guelph, Kitchener, Simcoe and Waterloo specialize in the treatment of otitis media Schedule your child’s hearing test today.
Congenital Hearing Loss
While the sense of hearing becomes active in most people by around 16 weeks in the womb, some people are born with hearing difficulties or “congenital” hearing loss.
50% or more of congenital hearing loss cases typically stem from genetic issues.
Other causes of congenital hearing loss might include prenatal infections, illnesses, toxins consumed by the mother during pregnancy, infection within the womb, premature birth, gestational diabetes, toxemia during pregnancy, and lack of oxygen (anoxia).
Acquired Hearing Loss
When hearing loss occurs after birth, it is referred to as acquired hearing loss, which is not child-specific. Several risk factors associated with acquired hearing loss in children include frequent ear infections, ototoxic drugs known to affect hearing, meningitis, measles, encephalitis, chickenpox, influenza, mumps, head injuries, and noise exposure.
Noise exposure deserves special mention because it is among the primary causes of acquired hearing loss in children.
The advent of earbuds, video games, and an endless stream of media via smartphones pump damaging sound at excessive volume directly into your child’s ears, making it necessary to monitor your child’s use of earbuds
The Arnold Hearing Centres professionals in our Guelph, Kitchener, Simcoe and Waterloo clinics specialize in these other types of hearing loss that affect children of all ages
How To Detect Hearing Loss In Children
Knowing if your child is displaying the warning signs of hearing loss or is at risk of developing hearing loss is an important part of helping them get the help they need as soon as possible. To help you recognize the symptoms of hearing loss in children, here is a list of questions to consider:
Does your child often not respond when called?
This could indicate difficulty hearing or processing sounds.
Does your child need to have things repeated?
Frequent repetition may suggest they are missing parts of conversations.
Does your child always turn up the volume on the TV or radio?
If they consistently need higher volume levels, they may struggle to hear softer sounds.
Does your child not understand people without facing them?
If they rely on lip-reading or visual cues, it could be a sign of hearing difficulty.
