Audiology Services
Gillette’s audiology services provide hearing assessments and diagnostic testing for children who have disabilities. Because hearing loss can accompany certain medical conditions and syndromes, many of our patients require assessments during infancy, in childhood or after traumatic injuries.
But hearing tests can pose unique challenges for our patients. For example, children who are nonverbal, who have developmental challenges, or who must remain in bed following a brain or spinal cord injury are often difficult to test. Many community-based audiology centers lack the equipment and experience needed to test children who have such complex medical conditions.
Our St. Paul audiology facility conducts a variety of hearing evaluations for patients of all ages and ability levels. Tests that we offer include:
- Visual Reinforcement Audiometry: Light-up toys and videos reinforce a child’s head-turn response to a sound.
- Conditioned Play Audiometry: The hearing test is made into a game. For example, children drop a block into a bucket each time they hear a sound.
- Otoacoustic Emissions Testing: A small earphone sends a sound into the ear. If the inner ear is healthy, we can measure a response or echo.
- Auditory Brainstem Response (ABR) Testing: Electrodes on a patient’s head measure signals generated by portions of the auditory system while patients sleep or are sedated. ABR testing makes it possible to evaluate anyone, including infants and patients who can’t respond verbally.
- Tympanometry: This test provides information about the health of the middle ear.
What Causes Hearing Loss?
A variety of things can result in hearing loss, including certain syndromes, traumatic brain injuries, and viral infections such as meningitis or congenital cytomegalovirus (CMV). Infants who are born with a cleft lip and/or palate are at an increased risk for hearing loss, as are children who have a family history of hearing issues. In certain cases, however, doctors may not be able to determine the cause of hearing loss.
If hearing loss is discovered, our audiology team will refer the patient to an ear, nose and throat (ENT) specialist for further evaluation. We also might recommend speech therapy for children who experience communication delays resulting from hearing difficulties.
Making an Appointment
For more information about Gillette’s audiology services, or to schedule an appointment, call 651-578-5040 or 800-719-4040 (toll-free).
