Questions to ask when scheduling an appointment
for your child’s hearing test

  • A hearing test should be completed before 3 months of age if your child does not pass the hospital hearing screening.
  • It is important to diagnose hearing loss as soon as possible so your child does not miss out on early learning and language development opportunities.

  • It is helpful to bring all hearing screening results.
  • Testing should be performed on both ears, even if one ear passed the screening.
  • Some babies are at a higher risk for hearing loss than others. It is helpful to provide information about pregnancy or childbirth problems and any family history of childhood hearing loss.

  • If more than one appointment is going to be needed, be sure to ask how long the wait is for the next appointment.
  • It could take up to 2 hours to complete a hearing evaluation. All testing may not be completed in one visit.
  • If another appointment is needed, it is important to make the second appointment as soon as possible so that treatment is not delayed.

  • It is important to prepare for the appointment so your child will be ready for testing.
  • Preparation depends on how the test is done and the age of your child.
  • For newborns and very young infants, the testing is done while your baby is sleeping.
  • For older babies, sedation may be recommended.
  • Children who are old enough to cooperate for testing should be well-rested, relaxed, and ready to play.

  • You may need a referral from your child’s doctor for the hearing test to be covered by your insurance.
  • Medicaid is government-funded health care for low-income children and families.
  • Private health plans are health insurance plans offered by employers to their employees. An individual can also purchase a private plan.
  • The Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act (IDEA 2004) provides federal funding (supplemented by state funds) for school-based services for all children ages 3–21 years who qualify to receive services.
  • Children younger than 3 may qualify for your state Early Intervention (Part C) program.
  • Some programs are based on financial need; these can assist with costs related to audiology services, hearing aids, assistive devices, and speech-language pathology services.

    • Keep in mind:
    • Experience does matter, but smaller facilities with fewer patients often provide excellent services.
    • Top quality facilities can be found in both urban AND rural areas.
    • Think about the types of services the facility offers and how they can best meet the needs of your child and family.
    • Talk to parents about their experiences with different facilities.
    • You may also want to seek a second opinion from another facility.