AUDIOLOGY SERVICES

Audiology provides both pediatric and adult services to outpatients and inpatients. These services include:

Infant Hearing Program
Carolinas Rehabilitation Audiology supervises the Infant Hearing Screening program at Carolinas Medical Center, CMC-Pineville, and CMC - University. This program provides hearing screenings for newborns at these facilities. Trained volunteers and/or nursing staff complete testing using automated hearing screening equipment. For infants at risk for hearing loss (typically those in the Neonatal Intensive Care Nursery or Special Care Nurseries), more advanced hearing testing is completed by audiologists.

Hearing Assessment
Hearing testing provides assessment of hearing ability and includes various tests and techniques:

Behavioral Hearing Testing
This type of testing requires a response to sound from the child or adult. Testing can be completed through speakers, earphones, or a bone oscillator.

Immittance Audiometry
This type of testing assesses middle ear function through tympanometry and acoustic reflex testing

Otoacoustic Emissions (OAE) Testing
OAE testing is a test of cochlear function that can provide information about hearing ability. For a response to be elicited, middle ear function must be good. With PE tubes a response may or may not be present. This type of test does not require any type of response from the child or adult and is very useful in testing infants and young children.

Brainstem Auditory Evoked Response (BAER) Testing
BAER testing is a test of eighth nerve (hearing nerve) function that can also provide information about hearing ability. BAER testing is completed by physician order only.

Central Auditory Processing Evaluation (CAP)
CAP testing assesses auditory processing abilities. It is available for children ages 6 years and up, and is appropriate for children with normal hearing ability who exhibit difficulties with learning and/or auditory processing skills.

Balance Assessment
Balance assessment is completed for persons with balance disorders including dysequilibrium and vertigo. Assessment is available by physician order and includes:

Electronystagmography (ENG)
ENG testing provides information about peripheral (inner ear) versus central nervous system balance disorders

Posturography (EQ)
Posturography is a functional test of the balance system that includes visual, vestibular, and proprioceptive (touch) components

Special Tests
The following special tests are completed by physician order only.

Visual Evoked Response (VER)
VER testing assesses the function of the optic nerve. Although it provides information about how the optic nerve is functioning it does not provide information about visual acuity. This test is useful in the assessment of neurological disorders including MS, tumors, brain injury, etc.

Somatosensory Evoked Response (SSEP)
SSEP testing assesses the function of peripheral sensory nerves in the arms and legs. This test is useful in the assessment of neurological disorders including tumor, brain injury, spinal cord injury, MS, etc.

For more information about Carolinas Rehabilitation's Audiology Services or to schedule an appointment, please call 800-634-2256 or email.