Pediatric audiology: Family-centered hearing care

Hearing can help us to connect to the world around us. It can help us to communicate, keep us safe and bring us joy.

UW Health Kids audiology focuses on evaluation and treatment of children’s hearing. Our team of audiologists evaluates hearing in kids from birth through age 17. For those diagnosed with hearing loss, we offer a variety of treatment plans.

We use a variety of tests to assess hearing in children in order to accurately diagnose hearing conditions. We work with the child and their family to then develop an individualized treatment plan. We work to engage young children in testing by using toys and games.

Testing services

Age appropriate behavioral and non-behavioral tests include:

• Visual reinforcement audiometry

• Conditioned play audiometry

• Tympanometry

• Auditory brainstem response (ABR)

• Otoacoustic Emissions (OAE)

• Cochlear implant evaluations

• Hearing aid evaluations

Treatments and other services

Treatment is tailored to each child’s needs. Treatment options and services that that we offer include:

• Cochlear implants

• Bone-anchored hearing aids

• Traditional hearing aids

• Custom earmolds, including swimming ear plugs and stage performer earpieces

• Device repairs

Craniofacial Anomalies Clinic

Sometimes, hearing disorders are linked to craniofacial anomalies. These are defects in a child’s head and facial bones that are usually present at birth. Doctors in our Craniofacial Anomalies Clinic specialize in treating these conditions.