WHEN TO REFER -CHILDREN

 

CHILDREN

 

WHEN TO REFER

 

When to refer for hearing / neuro-auditory processing testing in children:

 

• Parent or caregiver concern
• History of ear infections
• Frequent upper respiratory infections
• Allergies, snoring, and/or mouthbreathing
• Delayed or disordered speech-language development
• Speech mis-articulations
• Developmental delay
• Balance problems
• Vision problems
• Poor listening attention
• Frequent request for repetition (e.g. “what?” or “huh?”)
• Misinterpretation of what has been said
• “Selective” hearing
• Trouble hearing in noise
• Difficulty following multi-step directions
• Trouble with listening comprehension
• Problems organizing thoughts for language expression (oral or written)
• Loudness sensitivity
• Difficulty learning to read
• Trouble with reading comprehension
• Concerns regarding attention skills
• Concerns regarding learning skills
• Concerns regarding social communication skills

 

CHILDREN

 

RISK FACTORS FOR HEARING LOSS

 

• Parent or caregiver concern
• Family history for hearing loss
• Maternal TORCH infections during pregnancy (toxoplasmosis, syphilis, rubella, cytomegalovirus, herpes)
• Craniofacial anomalies
• Mondini malformation (congenital cochlear malformation)
• Low birthweight (less than 3# 3oz.)
• Low Apgar scores at birth
• Mechanical ventilation for more than 5 days
• Meconium aspiration
• Persistent pulmonary hypertension (PPHN)
• Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia (BPD)
• Sepsis / Meningitis
• Use of ototoxic medications
• Hyperbilirubinemia (severe jaundice, especially if requiring blood transfusion)
• Interventricular hemorrhage
• Hydrocephalus
• Syndromes or congenital anomalies
• Chromosomal abnormalities
• Interventricular hemorrhage
• Infectious diseases (measles, mumps)
• Ear infections
• Complaints of tinnitus
• Head injury