Hours: Monday – Friday: 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.
For Appointments: (888) 495-5218
- Susanne Abate AuD, CCC-A
- Annemarie Cox AuD, CCC-A
- Tammy Riegner MS, CCC-A
- Rebecca Huzzy AuD, CCC-A
- Yell Inverso AuD, PhD, CCC-A – manager of audiology
- Liesl Looney AuD, CCC-A
- Jessica Loson AuD, CCC-A
- Paula Moore AuD, CCC-A
- Shanda Morlet AuD, CCC-A
- Stacy Szymkowski AuD, CCC-A
- Sarah Zavala AuD, CCC-A
- Emily Zwicky AuD, CCC-A
- photo ID
- medical and pharmacy insurance cards
- preferred pharmacy name and phone number
- names and dosage of all medications, including over-the-counter medication, your child is currently taking
- guardianship and custody papers, if a legal guardian rather than a parent accompanies your child
- Patient Presents Without Legal Guardian (PDF)
English | Spanish
Note: A parent or legal guardian must be with a child for a first visit.
Resources for Patients & Families
A child with hearing loss or impairment may be able to hear some sounds or nothing at all. Impairment means something is not working correctly or as well as it should. People also may use the words deaf, deafness, or hard of hearing when they're talking about hearing loss in children.
In the Audiology Division at Nemours/Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children, our board-certified audiologists perform evaluations on children with hearing, balance and other ear-related problems. We offer full service diagnostics, so regardless of the child’s functional or cooperative level, we are equipped to assess any child’s hearing.
Signs of Hearing Loss in Children
Hearing screening should begin at birth. Even if your newborn passes his or her first hearing screening, it’s important to track hearing milestones your child should reach in the first year of life:
- most newborn infants startle or "jump" to sudden loud noises
- by 3 months, a baby usually recognizes a parent's voice
- by 6 months, an infant can usually turn his or her eyes or head toward
- by 12 months, a child can usually imitate some sounds and produce a few words, such as "Mama" or "bye-bye"
As your baby grows into a toddler, signs of a hearing loss may include:
- limited, poor, or no speech
- frequently inattentive
- difficulty learning
- often increases the volume on the TV
- fails to respond to conversation-level speech, or answering inappropriately
Our Nemours audiologists will assess a child's hearing by doing different types of tests. If it’s found that a child has hearing loss, the audiologist will recommend treatment and suggest the family work with a special team. This team will figure out the best way for a child with hearing loss or impairment to learn and communicate.
How Hearing Loss May Affect a Child's Speech Development
It’s important to remember that we speak because --and as-- we hear. Even a mild hearing loss in a child can cause speech and language development to be affected. Proper care and management of hearing loss is critical to providing your child with the most optimal listening capability. Most children will perform to the best of their ability when they can understand and can communicate.
Types of Hearing Loss
Conductive Hearing Loss occurs when sound is blocked from traveling through the hearing pathway, from problems such as middle ear fluid or wax build-up. Generally, this type of hearing loss is temporary. Common causes of conductive hearing loss include otitis media with effusion (i.e. fluid), “congestion” in the middle ear space (i.e. Eustachian Tube Dysfunction), wax build-up, or a structural problem such as very narrow or closed ear canals or a hole in the eardrum.
When your child has a hearing evaluation that shows conductive hearing loss, a medical evaluation should be conducted by a physician to determine the cause and appropriate treatment. In most cases, if and when the problem is resolved (i.e. middle ear fluid dissolves, wax is removed, etc.) the child’s hearing will return to normal. This should be verified by repeating the hearing evaluation. In some cases, conductive hearing loss in children may be permanent, and careful monitoring by the audiologist is necessary. Depending on the child and the hearing loss, amplification may be recommended.
Conductive hearing loss in children typically ranges from mild to moderate degree, and this can fluctuate from day to day as well. When communicating with your child that has a conductive hearing loss, it may be helpful to reduce background noise as much as possible and allow for facial cues to help get the message across (i.e. talking from “room-to-room” should be avoided when possible). Keep in mind that speech sounds may be muffled or inaudible to your child at times, and therefore using the above-mentioned communication strategies, as well as gaining the child’s attention, and keeping good eye contact, will likely help improve communication. It is important to follow the recommendations given by the physician, including any medications or instructions.
Sensorineural Hearing Loss (SNHL) occurs when there is damage to the inner ear, or the pathways from the inner ear to the brain. There are no medical or surgical treatments for SNHL, and typically, this type of hearing loss is permanent. Common causes of sensorineural hearing loss in children include hereditary factors, ear trauma, noise-induced, syndrome-related, or from certain illnesses.
When your child has a hearing evaluation that shows sensorineural hearing loss, a medical evaluation should be conducted by an Ear, Nose, and Throat (ENT) physician to determine the cause and appropriate treatment. In addition to the ENT evaluation, imaging of the ear to look for structural problems and a genetics evaluation may also be requested. Close monitoring by the audiologist is necessary, and serial appointments are critical to determine if the hearing loss is stable or progressive (worsening). Depending on the child and the hearing loss, amplification may be recommended. It is important to diagnose and treat hearing loss in children as early as possible, as it can affect speech and language development, general learning skills, and overall well-being.
SNHL hearing loss in children typically ranges from a mild to profound degree. Even with appropriate amplification, sounds may sometimes still be difficult to understand for the child. When communicating with your child that has
SNHL, it may be helpful to reduce background noise as much as possible
and allow for facial cues to help get the message across (i.e. talking from “room-to-room” should be avoided when possible). Keep in mind that speech sounds may be muffled or inaudible to your child at times, and therefore using the above-mentioned communication strategies, as well as gaining the child’s attention, and keeping good eye contact, will likely help improve communication.
Mixed Hearing Loss occurs when both conductive and sensorineural hearing loss are present at the same time. In most cases, a permanent sensorineural hearing loss is present, and then a temporary conductive overlay that is typically short-lived (such as an ear infection) may appear, causing the hearing loss to be worse. Once the conductive issue is resolved, the hearing typically goes back to the baseline point.
Noise Induced Hearing Loss is the result of exposure to loud sounds over a period of time or to an extremely loud blast. The damage occurs to the tiny hair cells in our inner ear, and can create sensorineural hearing loss in children. It is typically painless, and occurs gradually over time. This concept is important because there are no signs of damage while the damage is being done. Therefore we must use education as our tool to parents and children, to prevent the damaging effects of noise to their ears.
Children often do not know how to safely use their technology, such as iPods, mp3 players, gaming devices, etc., and can harm their hearing as a result. On a survey commissioned by the American Speech Language Hearing Association (ASHA), more than half of the high school students polled reported at least one symptom of hearing loss. Another study showed that children’s use of entertainment media is on the rise and listening time is growing each day.
Children can enjoy their devices while protecting their delicate ears.
The three main rules are:
- Limit the daily listening time, and include listening breaks for quiet time.
- Turn down the volume (half volume is recommended).
- Be a good role model to others by modeling safe listening habits.
(Central) Auditory Processing Disorder (CAPD) can involve many different symptoms and behaviors at home and in the classroom. The most common complaints involve difficulty listening or focusing when there is background noise, and difficulty quickly and accurately understanding and responding to what was said orally. Some children with CAPD many experience challenges with attention, reading or writing, or expressive and receptive language skills. Screening tests may be performed at your child’s school or doctor’s office, but only an audiologist can diagnose a Central Auditory Processing Disorder.
If CAPD is diagnosed in your child, recommendations or therapy options will be made that relate to the specific area of disorder that was seen during testing. At this time, CAPD is not categorized as a legally recognized learning disability. This means that your child’s school may or may not be able to provide specific therapy or interventions with a speech pathologist or learning specialist for your child based solely on a diagnosis of CAPD. You will, however, be encouraged to work with your child’s school to ensure that your child has access to the type of listening environment and listening strategies that will be most helpful for your child.
How We Treat Hearing Loss in Children
If your child is diagnosed with hearing loss or other hearing impairment, our audiologists will make appropriate recommendations based on the type and degree of your child’s hearing loss.
If hearing aids are necessary, Nemours audiologists are qualified and experienced in the fitting of hearing aids for children of all ages, including young babies. Our program is designed to closely monitor each and every child with their hearing loss and hearing aid care.
Hearing aids are the primary nonmedical treatment for hearing loss in children. The most common type of hearing loss involves cochlear dysfunction and hearing aids allow an amplification of sound to overcome this problem. A hearing aid's basic components are the microphone, amplifier, and receiver.
Types of Hearing Aids
There are several hearing aid styles; although the most common for children are behind-the-ear hearing aids. There is no single style or manufacturer that is best. Hearing aid selection is based on the child's individual needs. If a child has bilateral (both ears) hearing loss, two hearing aids are usually worn.
There are few styles of hearing aids. They include:
- Behind-the-Ear (BTE): These hearing aids are most often used with children because of their flexibility for ear growth and they can be used for all degrees of hearing loss from slight to profound
- In-the-Ear (ITE): ITE hearing aids are custom made to fit into the concha, or bowl of the ear, and the ear canal
- In-the-Canal (ITC): ITC hearing aids are custom made to fit in the
As a general rule, ITE and ITC hearing aids are typically not fit on children due to their growing and changing ears.
Benefits of Hearing Aids
Hearing aids can provide access to hearing speech and nonspeech sounds that might not be heard without them. For a child with hearing loss, hearing aids can make speech sounds audible. This allows these children to develop speech and language just as their normal hearing peers. Hearing environmental sounds as well as speech will provide increased safety. Without hearing aids, a child with hearing loss may not be able to hear sounds such as smoke alarms, cars approaching, car horns, or other safety warnings.
All children with hearing loss should be seen by an ENT (Ear, Nose, and Throat) physician. A doctor will need to provide “medical clearance” for hearing aid use, making sure there is no medical reason why your child should not wear hearing aids. There are several reasons why a device should not or cannot be placed in the ear. In these cases, there are alternative amplification systems.
For some children with hearing loss or hearing impairment, background noise and distance from the speaker can interfere with hearing and understanding. FM amplification systems can be used by children with hearing aids as well as those children who are not candidates for hearing aids.
FM amplification systems (also called auditory trainers) increase the Signal-to-Noise Ratio (SNR) by bringing the speaker’s voice directly to the child’s ear, enabling the speaker's voice to be heard above the level of background noise, regardless of the speaker's location or distance from the child.
FM systems consist of a microphone called a transmitter and a speaker called a receiver. The transmitter is worn by the person who is talking (most of the time a teacher) and the receiver is worn by or placed near the child.
Just as with hearing aids there are different styles of FM receivers. They include:
- Personal: this receiver is worn by the child either in conjunction with a hearing aid or in isolation
- Soundfield: this receiver uses a fixed, strategically placed speaker in a room the child uses
- Toteable: this receiver uses small, portable speakers, so it can be carried to any room the child uses
An FM system may be recommended for use in a child’s school classroom in order to improve hearing in group or noisy environments. It can also be fitted for personal or home use, as well.
A cochlear implant does not restore hearing; it is a prosthetic device that transmits sound past the damaged cochlea directly to the nerve of hearing. It is intended for children with profound hearing loss who do not benefit from hearing aids.
Nemours/Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children has developed a comprehensive cochlear implant program for children between the ages of 12 months and 17 years. A cochlear implant is a surgically implanted device for individuals with severe to profound hearing impairment who receive no benefit from hearing aids. A major advancement in the hearing field, cochlear implants are a promising option for children with congenital (from birth) as well as acquired deafness. Cochlear implants provide many children with the assistance they need to hear conversation and environmental sounds.
Our implant team, which is comprised of experienced medical and clinical professionals, conducts evaluations and provides surgery and pre- and post-implant care including programming and rehabilitation.
For many children diagnosed with hearing impairments, speech-language therapy or auditory verbal therapy is recommended to help them develop their hearing and speaking skills. AVT is a specialized type of therapy designed to teach a child to use the hearing provided by a hearing aid or a cochlear implant for understanding speech and learning to talk. Auditory Verbal Therapists at Nemours are specially trained Speech Pathologists, Audiologists, and Teachers of the Deaf, who teach the child to develop hearing as an active sense so that listening becomes automatic. The goal is for active hearing and active listening to become an integral part of communication, recreation, socialization, education, and work.