Visual Reinforcement Audiology

[Laurendx]

Does anyone have any experience with this test? If so what does it involve ? How old was your child during the test and what were the results?

Thanks :)

I have a fair bit of experience professionally of this as I'm a Teacher of the Deaf. They usually try to use the test from about 8 months here until about 3. It involved the child sitting playing at a table and there are toys hidden in a black box to each side. The child is shown that when a noise plays one of the toys will light up and do something fun. Then the child learns that a sound means to look for the toy doing something. Sounds are then played at different frequencies and the child's response is monitored.

Thank you

Our son found the 'hidden' toys completely uninteresting! They had to change to using an amber spinning/flashing light (like a police light) instead - hear sound, turn head, rewarded with a blast of the light.

My son did the visual reinforcement tests from 8 months old, he also preferred the flashing lights. When he was 3 he transferred to the 'when you hear a noise in the room, put a brick in the box' test, audiologists still look for visual response though. His hearing results improved with the later test, but only by 5dbs across the frquencies. Hes now 10 and his hearing tests have been exactly the same since he was 3.

Thank you for your replies... do they tell you the results there and then ? Is it a pass or a fail scenario? Thanks

Sorry forgot to add... any experience at 6 months old? Between told the appointment will arrive between 6 and 8 months.

From what i can remember they give you the results on an audiogram showing his hearing levels across the frequencies, if there is a loss registering they like to repeat the tests over a few weeks so that they have a clearer result and if aiding is necessary they can set the aids up to be as identical to the loss as possible. When my ds has a cold or is just generally bunged up his hearing loss drops by 20db, this was recorded at an audiology appointment, so i always make sure to tell them at his hearing tests if hes just had a cold or if i think ones on the way. As for appointment, my sons was closer to 8 months, he had failed newborn screening and further tests indicated losses but were improving so they waited for the visual test. In this test he sat on my knee, i was not allowed to look at him and had to stay silent and not interact in any way, all his attention had to be on the audiologist who played with him as any flicker of noise recognition whilst another audiologist put sounds into the room was noted. Its very simple but very clever, when my son was aided (his loss is 45db in mid and high frequencies, so not disastrous by any means), they banged a spoon on the table and he jumped out of his skin and burst into tears, it was a perfect reaction to hearing the world correctly. My son is 10 now and tests by himself and i wait outside till the audiologist asks me in, hes mr consistent and has had the same read outs for 7 years and because of the early intervention with the hearing tests and aids he has had no speech delay. In terms of education, the extra equipment provided by his teacher of the deaf and some bloody good sencos from nursery upwards, hes transferring to secondary next year exceeding in all areas, and with teachers who have had some superb training in understanding his loss and how best to maximise his hearing in class.

Loved your post @Phillipa12

They do tend to go for closer to 8 months just to be more sure the child will be able to comply with the test.

Thank you really helpful :) xxx