Audiology

The Audiology Department at Children's Memorial Hermann Hospital offers a comprehensive program of professional hearing services. Hearing evaluations have a variety of components and may differ from one person to the next, depending on age and specific problems.

We perform each evaluation in accordance with American Academy of Audiology guidelines. Our audiologists have advanced degrees and are licensed by the state of Texas and certified nationally. In addition to hearing evaluations, we offer prevention programs and personalized rehabilitation for people with hearing and vestibular impairments.

We offer the following tests:

• Pediatric Audiogram (PA)
• Auditory Brainstem Response (ABR)
• Otoacoustic Emission (OAE)
• Newborn Hearing Screening
• Ototoxic Monitoring
• Tympanometry
  

Pediatric Audiogram (PA)

Designed to meet the special needs of children, the pediatric audiogram evaluates hearing using behavioral observation audiometry (BOA), visual reinforcement audiometry (VRA) or play audiometry (PA).

Auditory Brainstem Response (ABR)

The ABR measures how well sound is transmitted to the brain. The test is used to evaluate hearing loss in infants, small children and people who are unable to respond to traditional hearing tests. Electrodes are placed on the earlobes and forehead to measure responses to clicking sounds. The ABR can detect blockages or interruptions in sound transmitted to the hearing nerve. Children must be asleep during the test; any movement, including the eyes, will interfere with test results. Your doctor may prescribe a mild sedative to help your child fall asleep for the test.

Otoacoustic emissions are measured by placing a microphone in the opening of the ear canal and reading the signals coming from the ear. This test evaluates an aspect of inner ear function.

The Texas Department of Health requires that all newborns receive a hearing screening by auditory brainstem response (ABR) or otoacoustic emission (OAE) before discharge from our hospital.

Certain prescribed medications may have side effects that negatively affect hearing or balance. We provide ongoing monitoring to safeguard the hearing of patients taking medications that may be ototoxic, or harmful to the ear.

Tympanometry assesses the mobility of the eardrum, which is part of the middle ear system. The test involves placing a small rubber plug into the ear canal, then measuring how the eardrum moves while pressure is varied in the ear canal. Middle ear problems often can be treated medically or surgically.

For more information, please call 713-704-1304.