A hearing test will measure a child’s right and left ears to check for hearing loss. The results will help you, the child and their caregiver decide if hearing aids could help.
Instruction
Use the hearing test section of the assessment form and check the Grade of hearing loss table to find out if a child has any hearing loss.
Question
What could you do to make it easier for a child with hearing loss to understand what you are saying?
Sélectionnez deux réponses.
Si vous avez sélectionné les réponses c et d, vous avez raison.
Sit at the same level as the child. Keep your face in good light while speaking clearly and slowly to make it easier for them to understand what you are saying.
Child-friendly approach
Prepare a child for the hearing test in a simple, fun and playful way.
Show the equipment so they know what will happen during the hearing test.
Instruction
Watch this video of a health worker using a child-friendly approach to explain a hearing test.
Question
Look at this picture of a health worker showing equipment using a child-friendly approach.
1. What makes this approach child-friendly?
- Le fait de s'asseoir au niveau de l'enfant.
- Le fait de sourire et de regarder l'enfant.
- Laisser l’enfant voir le matériel.
2. What are some other ways to reassure a child during a hearing test?
Other ways to reassure a child include:
- utiliser une voix amicale ;
- expliquer les choses lentement et s'assurer que l'enfant a compris ;
- dire à l'enfant qu'il se débrouille bien.
Déroulement d'un test de l'audition
When carrying out a hearing test with a child:
- Expliquez en quoi consiste le test.
- Exercez-vous ensemble.
- Procédez au test de l'audition.
- Calculez le seuil d'audition moyen.
- Notez le résultat pour chaque oreille.
1. Expliquez le test
Explain that you will test the child’s hearing by measuring the quietest sound that they can hear (hearing threshold).
2. Exercez-vous ensemble
Sit opposite the child so they can see you clearly.
Expliquez ce qui suit :
- As soon as you hear the sound, press the response button or raise your hand on the same side as the sound
- Release the button or lower your hand as soon as you no longer hear the sound
- Before putting on the headphones practice the test response
- When the child responds, praise and encourage them.
Conseil
If the child does not respond to the test it may help to:
- Use toys or stickers to encourage the child to participate
- Change the response signal, for example, the child waves their hand or drops a toy when they hear the sound
- Demonstrate with their caregiver
- Show them a video of another child doing the task.
Practice with the child first at 1000 hertz (Hz) and 40 decibels (dB):
- Ask the child to put on the noise cancelling headphones
- Check headphones are in the correct position
- Practice twice in each ear.
Conseil
If the child cannot hear the practice sound, increase the loudness by 10 dB and repeat.
3. Procédez au test de l'audition
- Put the noise cancelling headphones on the child
- Check headphones are in the correct position
- Start test on the child’s better hearing ear – if better hearing ear is not known, start with their right ear
- Réglez la fréquence sur 1000 Hz et l'intensité à 40 dB.
Conseil
Pour ne pas fausser le test :
- Position yourself so the child cannot see you presenting the sound
- Change the rhythm of how you present the sounds. This is to avoid them guessing when you will present the next sound.
Higher frequency sounds of 1000 Hz are usually easier to hear and give a child confidence at the start of a hearing test.
- Press the button for 2 to 3 seconds and see if the child raises their hand:
- If the child raises their hand, reduce the intensity level by 10 dB
- If the child does not respond, increase the intensity level by 5 dB
- Continue until you find the quietest sound the child can hear:
- Émettez le son à trois reprises pour confirmer le seuil d'audition.
- If the child responds correctly at least two out of three times at the frequency tested, record threshold on form
- Répétez le test à 2000 Hz, 4000 Hz et 500 Hz.
- Repeat on the child’s left ear.
Instruction
Watch this video of a child having a hearing test.
Activité
In groups practice carrying out a hearing test with a child who does not have hearing loss.
Préparation :
- Identify a space
- Check sound level is suitable using a sound level meter or downloaded hearWHO app:
- Cliquez sur Check your hearing (Vérifier votre audition) pour accéder au sonomètre.
- Allow permission to measure noise.
Test :
- Explain the test in a child-friendly way
- Carry out the test at 1000, 2000, 4000 and 500 Hz on child’s better hearing ear or right ear
- Record the quietest sound the child can hear for each frequency
- Recommencez l'opération sur l'autre oreille.
Niveau de confiance dans le test
When carrying out a hearing test, consider how confident you are about the test results.
You may have confidence if the child:
- La personne réagit aux sons de manière cohérente.
- Vous avez déterminé le seuil d'audition pour chaque fréquence.
You may have little or no confidence if the child:
- Réagit aux sons de manière aléatoire.
- Réagit même quand aucun son n'est émis.
- Réagit uniquement quand elle vous voit activer le testeur.
If you have good test confidence, continue.
If you have poor test confidence after discussing with your mentor refer person to ear and hearing professional.
Avertissement
Les résultats du test doivent être exacts pour que vous puissiez prescrire une aide auditive adaptée.
4. Calculez le seuil d'audition moyen
- Get the average dB by adding threshold value of 500 Hz, 1000 Hz, 2000 Hz, and 4000 Hz then divide by four.
- Comparez la moyenne de seuil de l'oreille droite avec celle de l'oreille gauche :
- Si la différence est inférieure à 15 dB, Continuez.
- Si la différence est de 15 dB ou plus Orientez la personne vers un spécialiste de l'oreille et de l'audition.
For children with unilateral (one sided hearing loss) and asymmetrical hearing loss (right and left average thresholds different by more than 15 dB), their needs are more complex. Refer to ear and hearing professional.
Instruction
Answer the following questions to test your knowledge from the TAP Preprogrammed hearing aids module.
Question
L'exemple d'Anju
Anju is six years old and goes to school.
Anju has received treatment for an ear infection. She returns with her parents to the local health centre for an ear health check and hearing test.
The health worker carries out an ear health screen. Both her ears are healthy. They continue with a hearing test. Anju responds confidently during the hearing test.
Look at her hearing thresholds for each frequency.
| Side | 500 Hz | 1000 Hz | 2000 Hz | 4000 Hz |
| Droite | 15 | 10 | 20 | 10 |
| Gauche | 10 | 10 | 15 | 15 |
1. What is the correct average hearing threshold for Anju’s right ear?
13.75 dB is correct!
Pour obtenir la moyenne, on additionne toutes les valeurs et on divise la somme par quatre.
2. What is the correct average hearing threshold for Anju’s left ear?
12.50 dB is correct!
Pour obtenir la moyenne, on additionne toutes les valeurs et on divise la somme par quatre.
3. Does Anju have less than 15 dB difference between her right and left ears?
Sélectionnez une réponse.
Oui, c'est exact.
The difference is less than 15 dB. You can continue.
Check the Grade of hearing loss table on the assessment form or below.
| Degré | Moyenne |
| Plage d'audition normale | Moyenne inférieure à 20 dB |
| Perte d'audition légère | Moyenne de 20 à 34 dB |
| Perte d'audition modérée | Moyenne de 35 à 49 dB |
| Perte d'audition modérément sévère | Moyenne de 50 à 64 dB |
| Perte d'audition sévère | Moyenne de 65 à 79 dB |
| Perte d'audition profonde | Moyenne supérieure à 80 dB |
4. What is the grade of hearing loss for Anju’s right ear?
Sélectionnez une réponse.
Normal hearing range is correct!
13.75 dB is in the normal hearing range.
5. What is the grade of hearing loss for Anju’s left ear?
Sélectionnez une réponse.
Normal hearing range is correct!
12.50 dB is in the normal hearing range.
5. Notez le résultat pour chaque oreille
- Notez les valeurs moyennes de l'audition dans la section du formulaire relative au test de l'audition.
- Notez le niveau de confiance dans le test.
- Indiquez le degré de perte d'audition de l'oreille droite et de l'oreille gauche.
Suivez la procédure recommandée pour le niveau de perte d'audition indiquée dans le tableau des degrés de perte d'audition .
Expliquez les résultats du test
After completing the hearing test and identifying the grade of hearing loss, explain results and whether the child may benefit from hearing aids.
Remember Anju?
You explain the results of Anju’s hearing test to Anju and her parents. Anju’s hearing is normal. She does not require hearing aids.