Audiology
(hearing)
Our Audiology Service provides a wide range of diagnostic tests for infants and children when there are concerns of hearing loss.
Our services
- Pure tone audiometry – a hearing test that uses headphones to measure hearing in response to a range of different sounds
- Visual reinforcement audiometry – a hearing test for young children. It combines a sound source with a visual reward to measure how the child responds to a range of different sounds
- Behavioural orientation audiometry – a range of noisemakers are used to assess how a child responds to sound
- Electrophysiological testing – electrodes are used to test the hearing pathway up to the brainstem in response to sound.
The type of test will depend on age and ability of the child.
Who we see
- Babies referred through the Healthy Hearing Screening Program
- Babies who are at risk of developing hearing loss
- Children with speech and language delay, frequent middle ear problems and physical and/or intellectual disability
- Babies or children when there is personal, parental or professional concern regarding hearing
How to access this service
Your child will need a referral letter from a GP or medical practitioner to access this service. Children referred to the Caboolture Hospital Audiology Service need to be less than 16 years of age and live in the Metro North Health and Hospital Service area. The referral centre will know if your child is suitable for this service.
The waiting time for an appointment can depend on the age of the child and availability of appointments. Please let the administration team know if you are available at short notice for cancellations.
What to bring
- Your child’s Medicare card
- Private health insurance card (if you want to use it)
- Health Care Card and/or concession card (if you have one)
- Your child’s appointment letter
- Any special items listed on your child’s letter
- Your baby’s Red Book (Personal Child Health Record)
- Something to read or do while you wait
- Results from any previous hearing tests including school hearing screening
My visit to the Audiologist
My visit to the Audiologist (children aged 3 yrs+)
Please use this video to watch together with your child before their hearing test. It shows a hearing test appointment for a child aged 3 years and up.
My visit to the Audiologist (children aged nine months – 3 yrs)
Please use this video to watch together with your child before their hearing test. It shows a hearing test appointment for a child aged nine months to 3 years.
Clinics
Frequently asked questions
The service is free to eligible patients covered by Medicare.
No, we do not provide habilitative devices including hearing aids, implantable devices or assistive listening devices. We can give you information about where to access these services.
We use a variety of tests which depends on the age and ability of the child (e.g. an infant versus older child). Test time can vary from 30 minutes for a basic paediatric assessment and up to 2 hours for infant testing. We perform a series of tests as one test is not enough to get a clear result of hearing ability.
Contact us
Allied Health Department
Location: Ground floor, Caboolture Hospital
Phone: (07) 5433 8625
Open: Monday-Friday 8.00am-4.00pm
Need help outside hours?
For non-urgent medical issues call 13 HEALTH (13 43 25 84) or visit your GP.
In an emergency call 000.
Refer a patient
To refer a patient to this service, view the Paediatrics referral guideline.
GP and Specialist Referral Hotline: 1300 364 938