Services

Little Ears Audiology offers the same technology used in most hospitals. The test uses a small tip placed in the ear canal which plays a soft, buzzing sound. Small electrodes may be placed on the face and neck as well. Responses to these soft sounds are measured in both ears, and the results are given to parents immediately.

• Because we are measuring very tiny responses, a quiet testing environment is required. Siblings are welcome to attend the appointment but must be quietly occupied. Babies can nurse or bottle feed during testing.

• Testing on newborns should ideally be completed by one month of age. However, Dr. Seibold understands how demanding a newborn's feeding and appointment schedule can be, and she firmly believes a screening should be done later than never at all. Don't panic or give up if your baby is older.

• The majority of infants do have normal hearing. If your baby does not pass the hearing screening, it does not mean that hearing loss is certain, but that additional testing is needed that cannot be provided in a screening environment.

• Dr. Seibold is an expert in infant hearing and will walk you through the process should you require additional testing.

By the age of about three years, most children are able to indicate when they hear a sound. Audiologists use simple games to determine hearing ability in young children.

• Little Ears Audiology sees normally-developing children for testing under headphones starting at age three. (Kiddos must tolerate their ears being touched and looked in). Testing can be completed for children who did not pass a school or pediatrician screening, for annual well visits, admission to preschool or daycare, when hearing concerns arise, or when a speech delay is suspected over three years of age.*

• Children should receive a hearing screen in Kindergarten, and grades 1, 3, 5 and 7. Little Ears Audiology gladly welcomes homeschooling families for this testing. 

• We monitor children's hearing to catch hearing disorders that are not present at birth but develop later. Included in this category are both permanent disorders as well as middle ear conditions and Eustachian tube dysfunction.

*Children under three whose parents have concerns of speech delay should see a clinical audiologist in a booth setting where tools are available to fit the developmental needs of these toddlers. Contact us for recommendations!