Preparing Your Child for a Hearing Test
Top 5 Parenting Tips for a Successful Pediatric Hearing Test
A pediatric hearing test can feel unfamiliar for both parents and children. This guide explains what to expect during a Visual Reinforcement Audiometry (VRA) appointment and how to help your child stay calm, engaged, and ready for a successful visit.
Tip #1: Pediatric Hearing Tests Are Designed to Be Comfortable
A visit to a clinic can be anxiety-inducing for both children and adults. Pediatric hearing tests, including Visual Reinforcement Audiometry (VRA), are designed to feel more like a fun game than a medical procedure. While your child plays and responds to sounds, the audiologist gathers valuable hearing information.
In most pediatric hearing tests, you also will not be separated from your child during testing. In many cases, testing can be completed with you in the room or even holding your infant or toddler on your lap.
Important Parent Tip: If you are able to be with your child during the test, it's extremely important you don't participate in any way during these games. Even a head turn or gentle nudge during the test can compromise the accuracy of a result. Your job is to be a steady and uninvolved presence during the test unless the audiologist specifically asks you to intervene.
Tip #2: Rested, Fed, and Relieved
The length of a pediatric hearing evaluation is heavily dependent on the cooperation of the child. In order to reduce as many factors as possible that may interfere with your child’s cooperation, make sure your child is not coming into the appointment hungry, tired, or possibly needing to potty mid-way through the test.
If your child has a comfort object (stuffed animal, blanket, small toy), it's also a good idea to bring it along to increase the chance of success during the hearing evaluation.
Important Parent Tip: If timing of your appointment is flexible, try not to schedule during nap time. Ideally, plan for a time right after nap time with a snack right before the appointment so that they are primed to be comfortable during the visit.
Tip #3: Avoid Screen Time and Overstimulation Before the Appointment
Testing your child’s hearing depends heavily on engagement and attention. Pediatric audiologists use Visual Reinforcement Audiometry (VRA), toys, games, lights, and videos to help children remain interested throughout the evaluation.
To help make the transition easier, try to avoid highly stimulating screen time immediately before the appointment. Children who are focused on returning to a favorite show or device may initially have more difficulty engaging during testing.
Important Parent Tip: If your child has specific shows or interests that will better engage them during the test, let your audiologist know prior to your visit. They may have a VRA system that allows them pre-load content specifically for your child so that they are as excited about the hearing test as they would be watching at home.
Tip #4: Bring Your Enthusiasm
Pediatric audiologists work hard to create positive reinforcement and an encouraging environment during testing. While they are experts in evaluating hearing, parents still play an important emotional role throughout the appointment. Encouragement from a trusted parent can help children feel more confident, engaged, and willing to participate during testing.
The goal of the appointment is not for your child to perform every task perfectly, but to help the audiologist understand how they respond during testing. The more encouraged they feel, the more likely they are to give it their best effort.
Important Parent Tip: Encouragement and coaching are different during a hearing test. Praising your child after they complete a task is very different from helping guide them toward a response during testing.
Tip #5: After the Visit, Focus on the Positive
Hearing evaluations for children are not always a one-time visit. Especially if a follow up visit is warranted, you want to make sure your child associates hearing tests as fun, and just as importantly, trusts that their audiologist is not a scary doctor to visit.
This can make follow-up appointments even more effective as your child learns who the audiologist is, what is involved in a visit and that there is nothing to be afraid of. Your positive reinforcement of the experience after the visit can be just as valuable as the tools the audiologist utilizes during the test if a follow-up visit is required.
Important Parent Tip: Even if the appointment was difficult or your child did not immediately connect with the audiologist, try to emphasize the positive parts of the experience afterward. This can help prevent anxiety or fear from carrying over into future hearing evaluations.
Final Thought
Pediatric hearing evaluations work best when children feel comfortable, engaged, and supported throughout the process. A little preparation before the appointment can make a major difference in helping your child have a successful experience.
If you and your child would like to learn more about what to expect during a hearing evaluation, check out our Flex Dog animated introductory videos to learn more about the process in a fun and child-centric way.