Audiology Services

Hearing testing is provided on a referral basis or through interdisciplinary team assessments. We also provide hearing testing on an on-call basis for the otolaryngologists (ear, nose and throat doctors) here at BC Children’s. Our staff do not dispense hearing aids, rather we work with our community partners to ensure that children receive the assistance they need. Hearing testing, hearing counselling and cochlear implant services are all provided.

We have a close relationship with the BC Early Hearing Program.

Who We See

We test hearing of any child under age 16 who is a resident of BC or the Yukon and who meets any of these criteria:

• Any child for whom previous community testing has been incomplete or unsuccessful or who can’t be tested behaviorally (either due to age or complications)
• Any child who refers on hearing screening (BC Early Hearing Program website) where BC Children's is the most convenient location for the family
• A child planned for or on ototoxic medications or bone marrow transplant (Oncology, Hemotology & BMT website)
• Some children referred from physicians or clinics at BC Children's in other programs (Endocrine, Medical Genetics, Neurology, General Paediatrics, Renal, Mental Health, Infectious Diseases, Oak Tree Clinic and Biochemical Diseases Neurology etc.)
• A child enrolled in the BC Children’s Neonatal Follow Up (NFU) or Cleft Palate/Craniofacial (CPCF) programs

• A child referred from any of the interdisciplinary teams at BC Children's Hospital and Sunny Hill Health Centre for Children (SHHC) – including their visual impairment or hearing loss teams or inpatient wards

• A child who may be a cochlear implant candidate

• A child requiring hearing testing from the Children’s Otolaryngology (ENT) service – on call

Neonatal Follow Up Team

This is a multidisciplinary team program that enrolls families voluntarily to participate in follow up testing.

Enrollment is offered to families whose infants meet one or more of the criteria below:

• 1. Birthweight 800 grams or less.
• 2. Verified gestational age of 25 weeks or less.
• 3. Intra-parenchymal cerebral infarct ("Grade 4 Intraventricular Hemorrhage")
• 4. Periventricular Leukomalacia with cyst formation.
• 5. ECLS/ECMO (extra-corporeal life support/ extra-corporeal membranous oxygenation).
• 6. Retinopathy of prematurity, Grade 4, or lazered in the newborn period.
• 7. Patient on approved and funded study.
• 8. Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia
• 9. Other unusual perinatal situations at the Director's discretion.

Once enrolled families are offered visits at 4 months, 8 months, 18 months, 3 yeras and 4 1/2 years.
Intake review is done two months prior to those corrected dates and each discipline reports on whether their assessment is needed for that particular child. For Audiology, in general the following applies:

• CDH or any baby who has had ECMO - 4 months unsedated ABR is offered.
• Infant who passed screening - 8 months behavioural assessment offered.
• Infant who has not had ear specific hearing testing in community - 3 year assessment offered.
• There are many exceptions to this guideline, each child's case is reviewed with the information we have at the time and if hearing loss has not been ruled out by the time of their visit, we will book Audiology as part of their visit.

Cleft Palate-Cranioacial Team

More information can be found at the BCCH Cleft Palate Craniofacial Surgery website:
http://www.bcchildrens.ca/Services/SurgeryAndSurgSuites/CleftPalateCraniofacialSurgery/default.htm

Oncology Team

More information can be found at the BCCH Oncology/Hematology/Bone Marrow transplant website:

http://www.bcchildrens.ca/Services/OncHemBMT/default.htm