Audiology Services
Audiologists at Children's Hospital Medical Center of Cincinnati provide newborn hearing screenings to infants admitted to the Regional Center for Newborn Intensive Care (RCNIC). Audiologists are hearing healthcare professionals who hold either a master's or doctoral degree and complete a nine-month fellowship. They are certified by the American Speech-Language and Hearing Association and are licensed by the state.
The state of Ohio recommends that all babies with risk factors for hearing loss receive an audiologic evaluation. However, many hearing impaired children have no risk factors. Therefore, the Joint Commission on Infant Hearing recommends a universal screening program such as the one implemented by the RCNIC.
In the RCNIC, an auditory brainstem response (ABR) hearing screening is completed while the infant sleeps. A small earphone and three electrodes are utilized to stimulate and monitor the hearing nerve. The audiologist analyzes responses and testing can usually be completed in about ten minutes. This screening rules out any significant degree of hearing loss. It does not rule out a mild or progressive hearing loss. Therefore, it is recommended that all infants have a follow-up behavioral hearing test at 18 months of age. For further information, please contact the Audiology Department at 513-636-4236.
See also: Audiology Department
Contact Us
For more information about the RCNIC, please call 513-636-4466 or toll-free, 1-800-227-5560.
