Hear Today Perth Clinic

Once you’ve made an appointment via phone or email, an email confirmation is issued, then a reminder text message is sent to you the day before your appointment. You will be required to sign a consent form upon arrival at the clinic. Your appointment will take place in our audiologic booth room with our audiologist, who will discuss you or your child’s hearing. The more information we have, the better we can understand you or your child’s hearing assessment needs.

The type of hearing assessment required will depend on the patient’s needs. There are a number of ways to check the different parts of the ear and measure hearing. These include:

• Tympanogram – measures the air pressure in the ear canal and movement of the eardrum. A small, soft, earphone-like insert is placed in the child’s ear. This test only takes a few minutes and results are available immediately.
• Otoscopy – allows the Audiologist to look inside the ear and provides valuable information about what’s going on in and around the ear drum. The probe of the otoscope is placed inside your child’s ear – this is a painless and simple procedure. This test only takes a few minutes and results are available immediately.
• Visual Reinforced Orientation Audiometry – this is a fun test for your child. Sitting either on your lap or independently, your child will have sounds presented to them through speakers. Puppets will then provide a visual reward when your child turns in the direction of the sound. We allow an hour for this test as it’s important your child is happy and comfortable throughout. Results are available immediately although there are times when a second visit is necessary to get all the results we need. All of this will be discussed with you at the time.
• Full Paediatric Hearing Assessment – we allow an hour for this test as it is important that your child is happy and comfortable throughout. Results are available immediately although there are times when a second visit is necessary to get all the results we need. All of this will be discussed with you at your appointment.
• Infant Diagnostic Hearing Assessment – this test is for your newborn if they have returned a second REFER result in their newborn hearing screen. Your baby will sleep while the Audiologist places the stickers/sensors onto the baby’s head and small headphones in their ears. The equipment measures your baby’s response to the sound and the Audiologist will determine the level of your baby’s hearing. This test can take 1 to 3 hours as this allows enough time for your baby to settle and sleep. Results are available immediately and depending on the outcome, the Audiologist will discuss what happens next.

Newborn hearing screening should be performed as soon as practicable after birth and ideally within the first 30 days of life. Babies can be screened from six hours after birth and are usually screened before discharge from hospital. 

If a baby is discharged before their hearing screen is completed, screening can be arranged as an outpatient appointment. Families who choose a home birth will also need to arrange an outpatient hearing screening. To make an appointment at our West Perth clinic please contact Ear Foundation on 0457 443 042. 

If your baby passes their newborn hearing screen, then they have adequate hearing to develop speech and language. It’s important to remember that sometimes things change – hearing loss can develop during the first few years of life, so annual tests are recommended. 

If you notice any of the following, then a hearing test should be a priority: 

• Slow, limited, poor or no speech
• Frequently inattentive
• Difficulty learning 
• Needs the TV turned up 
• Doesn’t respond when called by name 
• Easily frustrated when there’s lots of background noise 

The following could be signs of infection: 

• Ear tugging
• Difficulty sleeping
• Ear fluid or pus
• Irritable – crying or fussing more than usual
• Fever
• Difficulty hearing
• Diarrhoea, vomiting, and/or reduced appetite 

It’s not uncommon for children to have several ear infections per year. If any of the symptoms noted above persist, then contact your GP.