Meet Oakley: The Therapy Dog Helping Kids Get Ready for Hearing Tests in the Flex VRA System
Every pediatric audiologist knows the moment when a child steps into the sound booth, sees the headphones, and freezes. A nervous child is harder to condition, and that can mean fewer reliable responses during visual reinforcement audiometry (VRA). Pediatric audiologist Lisa Rylant, Au.D., found a creative way to change that moment, and we’re proud to play a small part part of it.
A dog, a kitchen chair and a sound booth
In 2022, Dr. Rylant began teaching her dog Oakley to keep headphones on and press a button. Oakley was rescued from a Georgia shelter at six months old and is now a certified therapy dog. Dr. Rylant photographed him working through each step of a hearing appointment and turned the pictures into a story for her young patients.
Before testing, she shared laminated pages with children in the sound booth so they could see what to expect. Kids who had been hesitant about headphones became more willing to try them, and the story even helped some older children and teens feel more confident about their hearing aids. In 2026, it became a published children’s book: Oakley Gets a Hearing Aid (and a Hearing Test Too!).
Why preparation matters in visual reinforcement audiometry and hearing tests
VRA depends on a child turning toward a sound and being rewarded with something worth watching. The audiologist’s skill and the VRA equipment both matter, but so does the child’s comfort walking in the door. A child who already knows what the booth, the headphones and the lights are for is more likely to settle in, condition quickly and give a complete set of responses. Oakley’s book and videos give families an easy way to prepare at home, before the appointment.
Bringing Oakley into your booth
We were glad to work with Dr. Rylant on Oakley’s explainer video and to bring Oakley’s animated character to Flex VRA. Audiologists can download Oakley’s VRA animation for free from our Flex Dog page and use it as a visual reinforcer during pediatric testing. For children who’ve read his book, it’s a familiar, friendly face on the screen.
It works with our video-based VRA systems, including Flex VRA and Flex Halo, which let you load your own custom content alongside the built-in video library. If you’re comparing VRA equipment for your clinic, our guide on what to consider when choosing a VRA system is a good place to start.
Free resources for families and clinics
Oakley now has his own website, meetoakley.com. Families will find a full read-aloud of the book, short videos that show children what happens at a hearing test and a hearing-aid appointment, and links to trusted parent resources. Clinics can download a free printable poster for National Audiology Awareness Month to hang in a waiting room or sound booth.
Happy early birthday, Oakley
Oakley turns seven on October 26. From a shelter puppy to a therapy dog, and now an assistant in the audiology booth, he’s had quite a few years. We hope the celebration includes plenty of carrots, his favorite.
Visit Oakley at meetoakley.com, and download his free VRA animation at flexvra.com/flexdog
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