DCH Rehabilitation – Audiology Services
Hear Ye! Hear Ye!
The Department of Audiology at Driscoll Children's Hospital offers a full range of clinical services for pediatric patients with hearing disorders and auditory problems. We have a full-time pediatric Audiologist as well as a Certified Hearing-Aid Fitter on site for all your audiological needs.
Tested – Tried and True
Our Audiological team offers a wide-range of audiological testing in order to provide the best care for the patients we serve.
- Behavioral Hearing Tests:
Visual Reinforcement Audiometry: The child is taught to turn his or her head each time he or she hears a sound. The child is rewarded by a lighted, animated toy, such as a bear playing a drum. The child sits on the parent's lap in a sound booth. Earphones may be worn depending on the child's cooperation. (ages 8 months to 2 years) - Conditioned Play Audiometry: The child is taught to throw a block in a bucket or put a peg in a board each time he or she hears a sound. The child wears earphones and sits independently or on parent's lap in sound booth. (ages 2-5 years)
- Conventional Audiometry: The child presses a button or raises a hand each time he or she hears a sound. The child may also be asked to repeat a list of words. (ages 5 years and up)
- Tympanometry: Assesses the middle ear system, which includes the eardrum and the bones attached to the eardrum
- Oto-acoustic Emission Testing: Assesses the functioning of the cochlea or inner ear
- Auditory Brainstem Response (ABR): By averaging the
brain wave responses to sound, this special test allows our Audiology
staff to assess difficult to test children or children who are too young
to be tested behaviorally.
- Sleep-deprived ABR: Children less than three months of age are tested in a sleep-deprived state. This means that the child is not allowed to sleep prior to testing so that he or she will sleep during the test period.
- Sedated ABR: Children over three months of age are sedated in conjunction with nursing personnel for ABR testing.
- Central Auditory Processing Testing (CAP): CAP testing is often recommended for school-aged children who have difficulty learning and listening. An auditory processing disorder is the inability or impaired ability to recognize or comprehend information by hearing even though a person has normal intelligence and normal hearing sensitivity. A CAP evaluation assesses auditory perceptual skills as they relate to communication and academic performance.
- Hearing Aid Evaluation and Fitting: For patients requiring amplification, Audiology offers hearing aid services. Children identified with hearing impairments that warrant amplification can be scheduled for a series of appointments for the evaluation and fitting of hearing aids and/or other assistive listening devices.
Facilities and Training
At Driscoll Children’s Hospital, we offer state-of-the-art equipment. We have two full sound suites where we conduct the majority of our hearing tests. We also have the ability to do customized ear molds on site. Our Audiology department is full of kid-friendly toys, games and books to make even the most apprehensive patient feel welcome and at ease.
The Audiologist is licensed in the state of Texas and has the Certificate of Clinical Competence in Audiology from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. The Certified Hearing Aid Fitter is certified by the State of Texas for fitting and dispensation. Each of these professionals also completes 10 credit hours of continued education each year to ensure we are offering the best services possible for our patients.
Driscoll Children's Hospital is committed to providing service to all children.
Kellie Spencer, MS, CCC/SLP
Director of Rehabilitation Services
Driscoll Children's Hospital
3533 South Alameda
Corpus Christi, TX 78411
Driscoll Children's Hospital is committed to providing service to all children.
To determine if a child qualifies for financial assistance or for support
with insurance pre-authorization, contact Driscoll Children's Hospital’s
Patient Financial Services
at
(361) 694–5111.
Making an Appointment / Referral
A physician prescription or referral is required prior to making an appointment. A referral form can be obtained by calling (361) 694-4533 or (361) 694-6135.Referrals can be faxed to (361) 694-4821
For More Information
To make an appointment or for more information, call (361) 694-KIDS (5437).
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Corpus Christi, Texas
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