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Toddler hearing test


Guest Chamomile

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Guest Chamomile

Does anyone have experience with toddler hearing tests?

I took DS 1yo for a hearing test today and we weren’t able to finish it.

It started with checking his ears, which annoyed him, but we got through it. He doesn’t have fluid in his ears.

Then the audiologist attempted to establish a behavioural link, to hear a sound, then look at the window and see a puppet. It didn’t work. He was squirming around, not really interested.

It cost $180 (will get $70 back from Medicare). We have an appointment to try again in 2 weeks time, for no additional cost.

I’m trying to work out if the place we went to wasn’t any good (Sydney city), or if my son is too difficult. The GP referred us to this place.

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My son had a test at 3ish. Same deal, they play a sound and then he would look to the direction of the sound and a thing in a glass box moved. All while playing with some pegs. The audiologist we went to specialises in children, and said she could tell by the small movements and actions whether he heard the sound or not.

There is a big difference between a 1 and a 3 year old though. Maybe they can do a different type of test on him? I’d be asking for options, in case another test doesn’t work.

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I was referred to a hearing clinic at the Deaf association here in Victoria as they are really good with children. I also have only had DS's eye sight checks with children's eye specialists .when under the age of 10. They need to be seeing kids daily to be intune with them.

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My one year old had the same test with the light up puppets. The audiologist was great; interacting with him, showing him the equipment, taking things slowly. He did lose interest at times, but she would regain his attention with dancing toys at the front.


Perhaps a second go will be better if he starts with the puppets rather than the looking in ears.

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We had our son done at about 2yo, same deal and it was pretty straight forward. We were referred to a place by our mchn and it was bulk billed, maybe ask your nurse?

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We saw an audiologist via Community Health (free) for our 2 yr old and they were fantastic. We did have to go for a follow up a few weeks later as the range of pitches towards the end of the test were inconclusive, but that was mostly because he was over it by that stage. Second time round we had a different person and they weren’t quite as good at engaging him but the session wasn’t as long as they only had to get that range retested.


Before your follow up it might be worth role playing the ear check and get him used to the process.

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Mine had lots of tests! She was diagnosed with hearing loss at a few months old though.

The puppet test is usual for that age. They can do it from about 11 months old.

They can use flashing lights if he’s not into puppets. Our used a variety of soft toys.

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DS2 was 3, possibly 4 and they had a system where when when he heard a noise, he could put a marble in ......ummm.....I don’t know what they’re called, but basically a box with glass front and back and you could see the marble zigzag it’s way down to the bottom. Even he struggled at that age as even though he heard the noise, he would look for permission to put the marble in, so I can only imagine how hard it would be to test a one year old!

The lady was fantastic though and said that even though the marble thing didn’t work out as well as hoped, she could clearly tell when he heard the sounds as his face would light up every time.

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ClaudiaCosette

One of my DDs has mild hearing loss, picked up when she failed the newborn screening test, so she has had many subsequent hearing tests (she's now nearly 3). She's always been seen at the Children's Hospital and they are completely set up for kids, but as a one-year-old it was still a struggle! I can't remember when they started using the puppet test but it would've been around one, and she'd just get upset and not be able to finish. Now she's fine and she enjoys it.


If it's possible to wait a bit til your DS is older, that wold make it easier, but of course that may not be an option. I like the idea of role-playing the puppet game so he knows more what to expect. He may do better the second time around, fingers crossed for you!

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  • 3 months later...

My kid who couldn’t hear much passed one of the puppet tests. Yet he obviously(to me) couldn’t hear. I kept seeing different doctors and allied health who all kept telling me I’m crazy and I need antidepressants or alcohol because he did a test and he CAN hear. Yeah, right. Dodgy kids! audiologist who did the test in 15 minutes.
Later on I was told that tests when there’s only one audiologist assessing young child are not “valid”, that you need to go to a place that only assesses babies/ young kids/nonverbal kids and adults/special needs and they will have 2 people per kid. No private practice will agree with the above as this is the norm, “it is legal!” but specialists agree with it, especially for young/non cooperative little people. It was explained to me that at least 2 assessors are needed - one to passively  and emotionlessly control, another to 100% watch child’s response. Ideally they should be in different rooms/behind the screen.
University audiology clinics are good as they will have 1-2 audiologists and a trainee audiologist or two. 
We had a really good experience with Macquarie uni clinic with a very young non verbal non cooperative kid. Later on experience wasn’t great as they thought he could do a test for older kids (marbles) and it lasted a couple of sessions with no definitive results… They we’re cheap compared to other places but I heard they have commercialised their services a lot.

OP, I suggest you go back and finish the test. Sounds like they are thorough and aren’t getting rid of you in 5 mins. Treat yourself to something nice afterwards! And buy some patience:)

As for no fluids in the ears, next time you are at an ENT or pead or good GP, ask them to check ears as well ( don’t mention that you were told there’s no fluid in his ears). Better be safe than sorry! 

Edited by QuirkyMum
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