CHC's Pediatric Center

Were you told your newborn did not pass their hearing screening? What do you do now?

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While there is a percentage of newborns that may not pass their first hearing screening, and this may be related to their small ear size or fluid in their ears both common in newborns, it is important that your infant be seen for a second hearing screening. If this second screening is not passed, the next steps are to see your pediatrician or a pediatric otologist to determine if fluid is present or not and to schedule an evaluation for a more in depth hearing test. 

 

The hearing test of choice for a newborn is an auditory brainstem response (ABR) test, conducted while the baby sleeps. This is a non-invasive physiological test that will determine whether or not your child has a hearing loss. If a hearing loss is detected, testing can help determine the type of hearing loss and the degree of hearing loss (how much of a loss is there). Click here to learn more about children's hearing testing.

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After this evaluation, our audiologist will be able to provide test results and recommendations for the next steps. These steps often begin with a consultation with a pediatric otolaryngologist who will provide any needed medical treatment. 

 

If test results suggest that hearing aids and a program of speech and language therapy are needed, all necessary services are available at CHC including:

 

• Fitting of hearing aids and the verification of hearing aid benefit using CAEP (see below)

• Ongoing hearing tests by our specialized team of pediatric audiologists for frequent ongoing monitoring of hearing

• Ongoing measurement of hearing aid benefit throughout your child’s life

• Center-based speech, language, and listening therapies for babies and children of all ages (both on an individual and group basis)

• Tele-health speech, language, and listening therapies for babies and children

 

Learn more about hearing testing.

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No child is too young to begin using hearing aids or to begin speech, language, and listening therapies.

CAEP Testing

 

The Center for Hearing and Communication in New York is pleased to offer cortical auditory evoked potential (CAEP) testing as part of our suite of renowned pediatric services. 
 

• CHC provides cortical assessment
   

• CHC is now using specialized technology to determine the
  benefit infants receive from their hearing aids. Cortical
  assessment tells us about how amplified sound travels
  through the auditory cortex. The presence of responses
  suggests that hearing aids are programmed optimally in
  order to provide benefit.​
   

• Assists audiologists in optimizing hearing aid programming
  so that infants may benefit maximally from their hearing aids.
   

• Serves as a counseling tool for the audiologist when discussing hearing aid use time with parents and other caregivers.
   

• Monitors cortical responses of individuals with auditory processing disorders (APD).
   

• Provides hearing aid verification for older children and adults who are neurologically impaired or multi-handicapped.
  
   

Hearing Aids for Children

 

Technology is ever-changing and with the addition of Bluetooth

connectivity and the use of smartphone apps, hearing aids have

become a way to connect to every aspect of our lives. When it

comes to fitting hearing aids on children, what may work for an

adult may not be appropriate for children and what may be preferred

by a child may also not be appropriate. It is important to work with

your pediatric audiologist to select the hearing aid that will provide

the best hearing benefit for your child.
 

For children these factors frequently arise as considerations:
 

• Retention and fit

• Hearing aid models used frequently in children need to be made  more durable

• FM connectivity

• Ability to have flexibility in hearing aid programming over time

• Battery compartments need to be tamper-resistant as batteries can be harmful if swallowed.

• Use of hearing aids with other technologies, Bluetooth connectivity, use of  smartphone apps

• Ability to use remote microphones

• Ability to pair with a cochlear implant if worn in one ear

 

 

At CHC we always measure the benefit of a hearing aid on an individual, whether an infant, child, or adult. For older children and adults we tend to rely on behavioral measures, that is, measuring the softest levels at which speech sounds can be heard and measuring the ability to understand speech at a variety of levels, both in quiet and in noise. For infants, however, we rely heavily on probe-microphone testing. This type of testing allows the audiologist to know just how much speech will be heard through the hearing aid. A very small tube is placed within the child’s ear with and without the hearing aid in place and the audiologist can compare different hearing aids settings and styles. Sometimes, this is not possible to do and then, computer simulations of this measure can be done with very accurate results.

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We have access to a variety of pediatric hearing aids. To learn more visit our page on hearing aids.

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NYC's Early Intervention

CHC is an approved provider of services through the Early Intervention Program (EIP) and Deaf Infant Program (DIP). 
 

Facts about the Early Intervention program and related services
 

• it's for children less than three years of age who have or are suspected of having a developmental delay and/or disability
   

• Services are provided at no out-of-pocket cost to parents
   

• Health insurance may be accessed for reimbursement for early intervention
  services provided to eligible children and their families
   

• Eligibility for the early intervention program can be determined only by State-approved evaluators under contract with the municipality
   

• If a child is found eligible for the early intervention program,
  all needed early intervention services are identified in
  collaboration with the parent and must be authorized by the
  municipality
   

• The municipality will arrange for service providers, considering
  the individual needs of the child and family,  to deliver services
  authorized by the municipality.

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Contact the early intervention agency in your area:

New York City: call 311 and ask for early intervention
Westchester: 914-813-5094 (v)
New York State Growing Up Healthy Hotline: 800-522-5006 (v)

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For questions about Early Intervention please reach out to Dana Selznick at dselznick@chchearing.org or 917-305-7855.

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We also have a variety of family workshops, both in-person and virtually, happening throughout the year.  Be sure to check out our Family Resource Center.