How to Find a Good Pediatric Audiologist

A pediatric audiologist performs hearing tests and evaluations to examine children for the presence and severity of hearing loss.

If you feel that your child is struggling with his or her hearing, there are warning signs that you should be aware of:

Infants

• Newborn: Doesn’t startle or react to sudden, loud noises

• 3 Months: Doesn’t show recognition of a parent’s voice

• 6 Months: Doesn’t turn attention toward sounds or voices

• 1 Year: Isn’t saying simple words or attempting to imitate sounds

Children

• Frequently asks others to repeat themselves

• Has difficulty maintaining attention or focus

• Speaks at a noticeably loud volume

• Struggles to follow spoken directions

• Responds only when making direct eye contact

If your child is displaying any of these warning signs, the next step is to find a pediatric audiologist and schedule an initial screening. Just as you would with any physician, it’s important to choose someone with whom both you and your child feel comfortable and who can provide the best possible outcomes.

To help you in your search for the right pediatric audiologist, we have identified three key characteristics to consider.

Good communicator

Good communication is essential in any relationship, and this is especially true when selecting a pediatric audiologist. Even if an audiologist possesses excellent clinical skills, their expertise is ineffective if they cannot clearly communicate their findings and the next steps. Your audiologist must be able to communicate effectively not only with you as the parent but also with your child.

A+ Attitude

Choosing a pediatric audiologist can be stressful for both you and your child, so it’s essential to consider their attitude. While it may sound cliché, a positive and supportive approach can make a significant difference during this challenging time. You want a physician who provides the encouragement and reassurance you need to find a solution.

Attention to Detail

Just as communication and attitude are major components in selecting the right pediatric so too are his/her skill sets and attention-to-detail.

Though their profession requires them to know a lot of information that’s specific to audiology, they should also have a keen eye and intuitive nature to understand and recognize the signs of other disorders that may be present.

That’s why attention-to-detail and thoroughness are characteristics that your pediatric audiologist should possess as well.

A culmination of all three of these characteristics plus your ability to connect with the pediatric audiologist are all major factors in who you end up choosing to work with your child.

Contact Us

Did you know that we have two full-time audiologists on staff at DePaul School for Hearing & Speech? If you’d like to learn more, contact us today.