Services
Pediatric Hearing Screening And Diagnostic Hearing Assessments
(Newborn Babies, Infants & Children)
Objective tests include Oto-

Conditioning Play Audiometry
Assesses 4 – 24 month old infants’ using warble tones, pure tones and speech stimuli

Visual Response Audiometry
Assesses 24 months – 4 year old toddlers using behavioural responses and localization abilities to warble tones and speech stimuli in a free field environment

Closed – set Speech Discrimination Testing
School Hearing Screenings
Due to the fact that objective tests are being used, hearing screenings at schools are not limited to pre-



Diagnostic Hearing Assessments For Adults
Assessment includes Otoscopy, Pure Tone Audiometry, Speech Audiometry, Bone Conduction, place of lesion testing including Oto-

Otoscopy

Bone Conduction Testing

Pure Tone Testing In Sound Proof Booth
Industrial Hearing Screening
Including Baseline testing, entry audiograms and exit audiograms. These tests are performed at the practice. On-


Hearing Protection
Including custom-



Custom – Made Swimplugs
Also used for children with grommets.



Central Auditory Processing Disorder (CAPD)
What is CAPD?
Central Auditory Processing Disorder, or CAPD, refers to the way that the central nervous system uses auditory signals. In other words, CAPD has to do with how the brain uses sounds that the ears hear. CAPD usually presents itself more clearly in complex listening environments, such as noise, or in a classroom where there are multiple speakers, or a teacher with an unfamiliar accent or manner of speaking. About 5% of school-
There is no single agreed-
- With CAPD there is breakdown in receiving, remembering, understanding and using auditory information
- With CAPD there is usually adequate hearing
- There is a neurological basis to CAPD
- CAPD impairs a child’s ability to listen
A child with CAPD often seems like a child with a hearing problem, and this is why it is very important to rule out hearing loss before testing. However, CAPD can also occur in conjunction with hearing loss. A child with CAPD can often be confused with a child with ADD, however, the treatment for ADD will not be effective on a child with CAPD.
How Do We Diagnose CAPD?
This testing is performed at our premises by an Audiologist from Graaff-
Appointments must be scheduled directly with Izienne Van Jaarsveld: 082 856 3654 or iziennevj@gam.co.za
Case History:
We meet with the parent or parents to discuss the child. Topics that may be covered include:
Your pregnancy and the birth of your child
- Your child’s medical history
- Your child’s developmental history
- Your child’s academic history, and strengths and weaknesses
- Your child’s social behavior
- Your child’s personality
- Any other assessments and therapies that your child has received
Be sure to bring any reports or results of other assessments that have been done. Also bring school reports if you have them. The more information we can use, the better we can diagnose and assist your child.
Assessment:
- Auditory Closure: How well your child can ‘fill in the gaps’ when listening, or cope with a speaker they are not used to.
- Auditory Figure-
Ground: How well your child can cope in listening environments where there is competing sound or background noise. - Binaural Integration: How well your child can listen with both ears and integrate the sounds between the two. This will influence how a child copes in a multi-
speaker situation. - Binaural Separation: How well your child can ‘tune in’ to one ear or the other, and ‘tune out’ of the opposite ear.
The testing will also identify if your child has a stronger and weaker ear, and which ear is the stronger. The results of the testing are processed and compared to age related norms. A report is compiled of the test results.
3. Results:
We meet with the parent or parents of the child to discuss the results. Any questions are addressed at this time, and the results will be explained in detail. A treatment plan will be recommended that has been custom designed for your child’s individual needs.
How Do We Treat CAPD?
There are three main approaches to the treatment of CAPD. Each child will require an individualized approach, tailor-
1. Classroom Modification:
2. CAPD Therapy:
We may recommend that your child receive Auditory Processing Therapy. We usually recommend between 6 and 12 sessions, but your child may need more. Therapy usually involves weekly sessions of 30 minutes, working primarily on various computer programs designed to stimulate the auditory system. Your child will work in a one-
3. Assistive Listening Devices:
and 12 sessions, but your child may need more. Therapy usually involves weekly sessions of 30 minutes, working primarily on various computer programs designed to stimulate the auditory system. Your child will work in a one-
Oto – Acoustic Emission Testing (OAE)
The OAE test provides objective information about the functioning of the outer hair cells of the cochlea. It can be performed hours after birth. A miniature earphone and microphone is placed in the ear; sounds are then played and as response are measured. If a baby hears normally, an echo is reflected back into the ear canal and is measured by the microphone. When a baby has a hearing loss, no echo can be measured on the OAE test. This test is also useful during school screenings, adults with tinnitus, adults working in noisy environments, diagnostic hearing assessments of young children and adults as well as part of place of lesion testing.


Tympanometry
The purpose of tympanometry is to determine the point and magnitude of greatest compliance (mobility) of the tympanic membrane/eardrum. The results provide important information about middle ear function and helps detect different conditions and diseases of the middle ear. (Shipley & McAfee; 1998). This test can be performed as part of a test battery or as a routine assessment of the middle ear’s functioning, especially for children who had previously received grommets. This test is also used during school screenings.


Eustachian Tube Function
The procedure for the performance of this test is similar to that of tympanometry, except that the change in pressure in the middle ear is measured during swallowing and equalization.


Hearing Aid Recommendations & Assessments For Candidacy
Hearing aids are very specifically chosen according to each person’s hearing test results or hearing abilities, daily needs and function at work or socially as well as financial capabilities. The Audiologist should inform each client of various options available, including the model of the aids, size, technology and colour. Each client should know exactly why they are given a specific hearing aid.



Hearing Aid Fittings
Hearing aid fittings consist of the initial fitting, as well as two-



Hearing Aid Follow-ups, Adjustments & Fine Tuning


Hearing Aid Repairs & Troubleshooting
All other repairs can be sent to the relevant company.


Sales Of General Hearing Aid Accessories
These include batteries, dri aid capsules, cleaning tools, domes, wax guards etc.



Hearing Aid Performance Assessments In Free Field Including Functionality In Noise


Tinnitus Management & Rehabilitation



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Our Branches
Port Elizabeth
45 Lloyd Road
Walmer
Grahamstown
Dr Gainsford & Partners, Specialist Clinic
120 High Street