Audiology and Hearing Care

What is audiology?

Audiology is a type of care that helps people with the diagnosis and treatment of hearing loss, how the brain processes sound, and balance problems.

Some medicines, treatments, and loud sounds can harm hearing. This can happen suddenly or over time. Hearing is important for speech, learning, and social skills. Getting care early can help your child do well at home and at school. 

Regular hearing tests can help find changes in hearing early. If your child has hearing loss or other hearing concerns, an audiologist may be able to help.  

Audiologists are health care professionals that specialize in audiology. They can do tests to learn about hearing problems and suggest treatment. They can also help you select hearing aids or other devices, make sure they fit properly, and assess that they work well. 

How audiology can help

Audiology can help your child hear and listen better. Hearing is how the ears receive sound. Listening is how the brain understands sound. Strong hearing and listening skills support speech, learning, and social skills. 

Audiology can also help with balance. The inner ear helps control balance and body movement. 

Your child may need to see an audiologist if they: 

• Are at higher risk for hearing loss because of a medical condition or past treatment, such as platinum-based chemotherapy
• Often ask people to repeat what they say 
• Struggle to understand speech in noisy places 
• Have ear pain  
• Hear sounds when it is quiet, such as ringing, buzzing, or whooshing 
• Feel dizzy, unsteady, or have problems with balance 

Audiologists often work with speech-language pathologists (sometimes called speech therapists). Audiologists focus on hearing and listening. Speech therapists focus on talking and language. Together, these care providers help your child communicate better. 

An audiologist can test your child’s hearing and monitor changes over time. They can offer support for hearing loss and share tips to help with home, school, and daily life. They can also help with hearing aids or other devices if needed. They may work with teachers and other providers as part of your child’s care team. 

Finding an audiologist

An audiologist is a licensed health professional who helps with hearing, listening, and balance. They usually have a graduate degree in audiology (AuD). 

Audiologists work in a variety of settings, including hospitals, clinics, schools, home health programs, and private practices.  

Talk with your care team if you think an audiologist could help your child. Many insurance companies cover the cost of hearing tests. You can also find an audiologist at a local hospital or through professional groups, such as the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) or the American Academy of Audiology. 

How to protect your child’s hearing

Your child’s hearing is very sensitive. It can be damaged by loud sounds. Noise that hurts the ears, makes them ring, or feels uncomfortable is too loud. Some damage cannot be fixed.  

You can do small things to protect your child’s hearing. These small steps can make a big difference.  

To reduce harm from loud noise: 

• Avoid events with loud noises, such as concerts or sporting events. 
• Move your child away from loud sounds. 
• Turn down the volume of music, TVs, video games, and other electronic devices. 
• Limit activities with loud noises, such as power tools or loud engines. 
• Have your child wear hearing protection, such as earplugs or protective earmuffs to protect them from very loud sounds (such as fireworks). 
• Have your child wear noise-cancelling headphones in noisy places (such as airports).  

Check toys for noise level: Before you buy a toy that makes noise, see if it makes loud sounds. Do not buy it if it is too loud. If you already have loud toys at home, take the batteries out so they do not make noise.  

Questions to ask your care team

• What tests will be done to check my child’s hearing and balance? 
• How often should my child have a hearing check?
• Could my child’s medicines or treatment affect their hearing? 
• What might be recommended if my child has hearing loss?
• Should we tell other people (such as family, friends, teachers, or doctors) about my child's hearing loss?
• How can I tell if a sound is too loud for my child?
• What types of hearing protection should my child use?
• How do I find a licensed audiologist near us?
• How often should my child follow up with an audiologist?

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