Pediatric Audiology Appointment Schedule Recommendations

Raising a child who is deaf or hard of hearing comes with a whole new set of responsibilities. From taking care of hearing devices to keeping track of listening milestones at home, there’s a lot to remember and do! Since hearing is the very foundation of listening and spoken language development, regular audiology appointments are critical.

At these appointments, a pediatric audiologist will monitor your child’s hearing status and make sure hearing devices are set appropriately. Just how often should you schedule audiology appointments for your child? We’re sharing some guidelines for when your child should be scheduled for these important appointments and when you should call with concerns.

How Often Should You Test Your Child’s Hearing?

Your child will need routine hearing tests with a pediatric audiologist. At first, you’ll need to go every 4-5 weeks until you have a complete audiogram. Once you have the audiogram and diagnosis, you’ll continue to return every three months until your little one turns 3. Their ears are growing quickly so you’ll need to make sure their earmolds fit correctly! Between ages 3 and 4 years old, you’ll go every six months. However, if you’re ever concerned about your child’s hearing, you can make an appointment to be seen immediately!

Other Times to Call the Audiologist 

In addition to your regularly scheduled appointments, you should call your audiologist for an appointment any time you have concerns about your child’s hearing or hearing devices. Call the audiologist if your child:

• Is not responding during daily listening checks
• Has ear pain or middle ear problems
• Suddenly refuses to wear hearing aids
• Reacts strongly to sounds
• Has changes in speech quality
• Is not meeting developmental milestones

As you complete your daily device checks, call the audiologist if you notice:

• The hearing aid is not working properly
• Cracks in the hearing aid, tubing or earmolds
• The earmold is not fitting snugly in your child’s ear (earmolds need to be replaced frequently)
• Excessive device feedback when the hearing aid is on your child’s ear

Remember, your child needs access to all the sounds of speech to reach their LSL goals! Regular audiology appointments are key to making this happen.