Evaluating Hearing Loss

The Children’s Hearing Center evaluates children for all types of hearing loss, including:

• Sensorineural, conductive and mixed hearing loss
• Auditory neuropathy spectrum disorder

Each child goes through a thorough examination. During this process, our team:

1. Identifies the reason for the hearing loss and determines how the disease has progressed through:
   • Medical and hearing (audiometric) examinations
   • A computed tomography scan (CT) scan of the temporal bone to look for inner ear malformations
   • A magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan of the brain and auditory nerve 
   • Blood tests to look for genetic and infectious causes
     
     
2. Identifies problems with other organ systems that may have occurred with the hearing loss. This may include:
   • Looking for central nervous system problems
   • An ultrasound or urinalysis to evaluate for kidney disease
   • An electrocardiogram to look for heart problems
     
     
3. Routinely recommends families for genetic and ophthalmologic consultations. This helps to identify other family members at risk for hearing loss and to provide treatment for those relatives at an early age. It also helps to identify any vision-related problems.
   
   Please click the thumbnail image below to view the steps we take for genetic testing. We may also order additional genetic tests, based on your child's situation. 
   
   
   
   Pendred syndrome, connexin 26, and connexin 30 are common genetic mutations that cause hearing loss in children. 

There are many different causes of sensorineural hearing loss. In children, the most common causes are:

• Prematurity
• Infections around the time of birth
• Genetics

Determining the cause of sensorineural hearing loss helps doctors:

• Decide on the best treatment for your child 
• Determine whether hearing will change over time

After the evaluation, we will discuss your child’s treatment options with you. These may include hearing aids and/or cochlear implants, and speech and language therapy. Occasionally, it is possible to find a treatable cause of the hearing loss and prevent further loss.

Request an appointment

Health care providers can refer a patient by calling the Physician Referral and Consultation Line at (800) 995-LPCH (5724), 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
 
Parents can self-refer their children without a health care provider referral by calling (650) 498-HEAR (4327).