Audiology / Hearing Center

The Michigan Department of Health Early Hearing Detection and Intervention (EHDI) program recommends that newborn hearing screening be completed by one month of age, diagnosis of permanent hearing loss by 3 months of age, and early intervention (educational) services begin by 6 months of age.

With early identification and appropriate services, deaf and hard of hearing children can develop communication skills at the same rate as their hearing peers.

• We hear with our brains, not our ears.
  • It takes 20,000 hours of listening before a child's brain is ready to learn to read.
  • Listening = Learning
  • Consistent listening experiences in early childhood (birth thru age 3) are very important for the development of speech, language and listening.

Benefits of hearing assistance technology (HAT) in the classroom:

• There is an improved “signal to noise” ratio - HAT systems make it easier to hear the person(teacher) talking over all of the background noise that happens in a classroom setting.
• Personal FM systems reduce the distance sound has to travel to get to the deaf/hard of hearing students’ ears. FM Systems make it easier to hear what the students is supposed to hear over all of the noise they are not.
• The microphone in the FM system can be shared with other people/students in class to ensure all information is shared.  The microphone can also be used as a table microphone for the increasing group work that is a part of students’ day.
• HAT is also critical for standardized testing to ensure deaf/hard of hearing students have the same access to test materials/settings. ​

What is a Cochlear Implant:

• A cochlear implant is a surgically implanted neuroprosthetic device that provides a sense of sound to a person with a severe to profound hearing loss.  They bypass the damaged portion of the ear and directly stimulate the auditory nerve. A child may qualify for a cochlear implant if they do not achieve one year of speech and language growth within one calendar year with consistent hearing technology use.
• Most children will obtain better spoken language development with the use of a cochlear implant with hearing thresholds of 80dB HL or poorer.

Hearing Aid FAQ:

• How many hours a day should my child wear hearing aids? - The phrase "if your eyes are open then your ears are on" says it all.   All waking hours is the recommendation, hearing technology should be taken out for sleep, bath and swimming.
• How long should my child’s hearing aids last? - Hearing aids last 4-5 years unless a change in hearing requires a change in technology.
• How do I care for my child’s hearing aids? - A listening stethoset is used by the family to complete daily listening checks to ensure technology is working properly.  It is also recommended that a Dry-aid storage kit be used at night to dehumidify the hearing aids.
• Why is there feedback/squealing from the hearing aids? - This can happen if there is a cerumen (ear wax) build up in the ear canals or when the earmolds are not fully inserted or have become too small