Audiology

Scope of Care

The Pediatric Audiology Program provides comprehensive diagnostic hearing evaluations for infants and children of all ages and developmental levels. The primary focus is on the early identification and treatment of hearing loss. Our goal is to give families information and support for making informed decisions about treatment options, technology to improve hearing, and communication options.

Close working relationships are maintained with primary care providers, pediatric otolaryngologists, pediatric speech-language pathologists, the OHSU Cochlear Implant Program and community-based intervention and educational programs.

Services We Provide

The pediatric audiology clinic is designed for infants and children with suspected or documented hearing loss or those at risk for hearing loss. Services include diagnostic hearing assessment, educational consultation, coordination of care, and referrals. The service provides the full range of behavioral, physiologic and electrophysiologic assessments for infants and children including auditory brain stem response (ABR) testing, behavioral audiometry, middle ear studies and otoacoustic emissions (OAE). Outpatient clinics are held daily. Inpatient audiology services are provided for patients with conditions associated with possible hearing loss.

Service Providers

The audiologists at CDRC have a masters degree (M.S. or M.A.) in audiology or a doctorate of audiology (AuD), hold the certificate of clinical competence (CCC) in audiology by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association and are licensed by the state of Oregon to practice audiology. The audiology staff is also involved in clinical hearing research and the administration of the newborn hearing-screening program at OHSU.

How to make a Referral

Referrals are welcome from any source including parents, educators, physicians and other health care providers. We are strongly committed to the medical home and the involvement of your child's primary care provider in the care of your child. Case management, follow-up scheduling and care coordination are arranged with local providers and families. The Scheduling Office may be reached directly at 503 418-0290 (503 418-0291 for those who speak Spanish).

Resources

Milestones in Auditory Development:
Birth to Age 2 Years

Between birth and 3 months

Startles to loud sounds.
Stirs or awakens when someone talks.
Recognizes and is comforted by the sound of your voice.
Increases or decreases sucking behavior in response to sound.

Between 3 and 6 months

Turns eyes and/or head in the direction of sound.
Responds to your voice.
Starts to make sounds such as "ooh", "ga", and p, b, m sounds.
Turns in the direction of their name being called.
Notices toys that make sounds.
Pays attention to music.

Between 6 and 12 months

Understands common words such as "no", "juice", and "bye-bye".
Turns head toward soft sounds.
Imitates the speech sounds of others.

Between 12 and 24 months

Uses 20 or more words.
Combines two or more words: "more juice", "what's that?"
Uses many different consonant sounds at the beginning of words, such as b, g, m.
Listens to simple stories and songs.
Gives a toy when asked.