The Department of Audiology at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia offers evaluations for hearing and for balance and vestibular disorders. In addition, we provide comprehensive hearing device and cochlear implant services for children.

Most audiology visits can be scheduled at any of the locations where we offer care, including hearing implant service locations.

After scheduling your child's appointment, please obtain any previous or current results to bring to your visit that may include relevant information, including previous hearing tests, speech and language evaluations, developmental evaluations and current or previous Individualized Education Programs (IEP)/Individualized Family Service Plans (IFSP).

What to expect

Arrive at least 15 minutes prior to your appointment time to check in. The time needed to complete a visit varies. Most visits last between 45 minutes to 2 hours in length. Note, some specialized appointments will be longer.

If you need to cancel or reschedule your child's appointment, call us at 800-551-5480.

During the appointment

After you arrive, the audiologist will greet you and bring you into the clinic for the appointment. In the exam room, the audiologist may ask you questions about your child’s history, listen to concerns and conduct different hearing tests such as:

• Newborn and infant hearing tests (auditory brainstem response evaluation with natural sleep and sedation)
• Behavioral hearing tests
• Immittance measures such as tympanometry
• Newborn hearing screening
• Otoacoustic emissions (OAE) testing
• Balance and vestibular evaluation
• Hearing conservation services
• Tinnitus and decreased sound tolerance services

At the end of the visit, the audiologist will explain all of the results and provide you with recommendations.

Insurance coverage

Coverage for your child’s audiology evaluation is dependent upon your specific insurance plan’s coverage and benefits. It is essential that you call your insurance carrier to determine if anything is needed prior to the evaluation, such as a referral or prescription from your doctor. You may be required to make a payment at the time of your visit. Learn more about billing and insurance.

Schedule a speech-language-listening evaluation for a child who has hearing loss

Specialized speech-language-listening evaluations are available for a child who has hearing loss and wears or is a candidate for a hearing device. Call 800-551-5480 to schedule this appointment.

More information

If you have questions, call the Center for Childhood Communication at 800-551-5480 or email us. 

An interpreter will be provided for patients and/or caregivers who speak a language other than English or who speak multiple languages. This is an essential part of our program and allows us to obtain a thorough background history, most effectively assess a child’s hearing, and insure that all results and recommendations are conveyed clearly and that all questions you may have are answered.