Paediatric Audiology &
New-Born Hearing Screening
Specialised hearing assessments for newborns, infants, and children from birth through school age. Early detection of hearing loss leads to the best possible speech, language and learning outcomes.
Why Early Detection Matters
Hearing Loss Is the Most Common Treatable Birth Condition
1–3 in every 1,000 newborns is born with a permanent hearing loss. Many more develop hearing loss in early childhood due to infections, genetic causes or noise exposure. Without early detection, children miss the critical window for speech and language development — with long-term consequences for education, social development and quality of life.
With modern hearing technology and early speech therapy, children identified before 6 months of age consistently achieve speech and language development comparable to their hearing peers.
Children diagnosed and fitted with hearing aids before 6 months show dramatically better speech, language and literacy outcomes compared to those diagnosed later.
Age-Appropriate Tests for Every Child
OAE — Otoacoustic Emissions
A tiny probe placed in the ear canal sends sounds and measures the cochlea's echo response. If the cochlear hair cells are healthy, an echo is detected — PASS. No echo — REFER for further testing. Takes less than 5 minutes. Baby can be asleep.
BERA — Brainstem Evoked Response Audiometry
Electrodes placed on the scalp measure the brain's electrical response to sounds. Objective — no behavioural response needed. Used to confirm hearing thresholds in newborns and children who cannot cooperate with standard audiometry. Performed during natural sleep.
Visual Reinforcement Audiometry (VRA)
The child is trained to turn towards a sound — turning is rewarded with a visual reinforcer (lit toy). Engaging for young children who cannot perform standard audiometry but can respond behaviourally to sounds.
Play Audiometry (PA)
The child performs a play task (dropping a block, placing a peg) each time they hear a sound. Engages young children in the hearing test in a fun, non-threatening way while accurately measuring hearing thresholds.
Pure Tone Audiometry (PTA)
Standard headphone-based audiometry adapted for children. Clear instructions in Hindi and English. Includes Speech Audiometry to assess how well the child understands spoken words — important for school performance.
Tympanometry & Acoustic Reflexes
Objective middle ear test suitable for all ages. Detects glue ear (middle ear fluid — very common in young children), eardrum perforations, and Eustachian tube problems. Quick, painless, reliable.
Hearing & Speech Milestones — What to Watch For
Startles to loud sounds. Quiets or smiles at a familiar voice.
Responds to voices. Makes babbling sounds like "baba" or "dada".
Turns towards sounds. Says 1–2 meaningful words by 12 months.
Uses 10+ words by 18 months. Forms 2-word phrases by 2 years.
Does not startle to loud sounds by 3 months.
No babbling by 9 months.
No first words by 12–14 months.
Speech largely not understood by strangers by age 3.
💡 When in doubt, test. There is no minimum age for a hearing assessment. If you have any concern about your child's hearing, book an appointment immediately. Early referral is never wrong — delayed referral always has consequences.
Paediatric Hearing Aid Fitting
When hearing loss is confirmed, early hearing aid fitting is critical. Our audiologists are experienced in paediatric fittings — working closely with parents and carers to ensure hearing aids are comfortable, appropriately programmed, and well-maintained.
🎧 BTE Hearing Aids for Children
Behind-the-ear aids with custom earmoulds are the most common style for young children — durable, powerful and easy to maintain.
- Bright colour options to make wearing fun
- Tamper-resistant battery doors
- Easy for parents to handle and maintain
- Earmould replaced as the child's ear grows
📻 Roger & FM Classroom Systems
Classroom listening systems that wirelessly transmit the teacher's voice directly to a child's hearing aids — essential for hearing in noisy school environments.
- Dramatically improves classroom speech clarity
- Works with most modern hearing aids
- Reduces listening fatigue at school
- Available for trial at Unikol
⚙️ Precise Paediatric Programming
Children's hearing aids must be precisely programmed using paediatric prescriptive targets. We use validated fitting protocols and real-ear verification to ensure accuracy.
- DSL v5 paediatric fitting targets
- Regular reprogramming as child grows
- Earmould replacement service
- Monthly follow-up in first year
Common Questions
Ideally within the first month of life — before discharge from hospital or within 4 weeks of birth. The OAE test takes just 5 minutes and can be done while the baby is sleeping.
Not necessarily. A refer result on OAE may be caused by vernix in the ear canal, fluid in the middle ear, or the baby being restless. A BERA/ABR test is performed to confirm whether a true hearing loss is present before any diagnosis is made.
Some hearing losses develop after birth — due to infections like meningitis, genetic conditions that are progressive, or glue ear (very common in young children). If you have any concern at any age, re-testing is always appropriate.
Yes. We recommend fitting as soon as hearing loss is confirmed — even in newborns. Modern paediatric BTE hearing aids can be fitted from birth. Early fitting is the single most important step for speech and language development.
Glue ear (otitis media with effusion) is fluid behind the eardrum causing a mild conductive hearing loss. It affects approximately 80% of children at some point before age 10. Most cases resolve on their own, but persistent glue ear can affect speech development and school performance — and should be monitored by an audiologist.
Book Your Child's Hearing Assessment Today
Don't wait for school — the earlier we check, the better the outcome. Unikol offers gentle, child-friendly hearing assessments from birth at our Indirapuram, Ghaziabad clinic.
📅 Book Child's Hearing Test →