Specialized hearing care for infants, children, and teens — Orem, Utah
Pediatric Audiology in Orem, Utah
Children's hearing evaluations require specialized techniques, patience, and age-appropriate testing — not simply a smaller version of an adult hearing test. Dr. Dansie holds the Pediatric Audiology Specialty Certificate (PASC) and provides comprehensive audiologic care for children from infancy through adolescence.
Infants & Toddlers
VRA, OAEs, tympanometry
Preschool & School-Age
CPA, conventional audiometry, speech testing
Adolescents & Teens
Conventional audiometry, hearing aids, monitoring
Children's Hearing Tests Are Not Adult Tests in Miniature
Adult hearing tests rely on a patient who can follow instructions, raise their hand when they hear a tone, and repeat words back clearly. Most young children cannot do this — and infants and toddlers cannot do it at all. Pediatric audiology uses a range of specialized behavioral and objective testing techniques that are matched to the child's developmental age and ability to participate.
The goal of every pediatric hearing evaluation is to obtain the most complete and accurate picture of a child's hearing possible — using the techniques that are appropriate for that child on that day. For very young children or children with developmental differences, this may require multiple appointments to build a complete picture, and that is entirely normal.
Dr. Dansie has specialized training and experience in pediatric audiology and understands how to work with children at every developmental stage — from newborns to teenagers — in a way that is both clinically thorough and comfortable for the child and family.
Pediatric Audiology Specialty Certificate (PASC)
Dr. Dansie holds the PASC — a specialty credential recognizing advanced training and expertise in pediatric audiology. Not all audiologists hold this certification.
What a complete pediatric evaluation covers
- Degree and configuration of hearing loss in each ear
- Type of hearing loss (sensorineural, conductive, or mixed)
- Middle ear function (tympanometry)
- Cochlear outer hair cell function (OAEs)
- Speech detection and recognition ability
- Impact on speech and language development
- Recommendations for treatment and follow-up
Age-Appropriate Testing Techniques
The testing approach used for a child's hearing evaluation depends on their age, developmental level, and ability to participate. Here is what each technique involves and when it is typically used.
Visual Reinforcement Audiometry (VRA)
Approximately 6 months to 2.5 yearsVisual Reinforcement Audiometry is the standard behavioral hearing test for infants and young toddlers. The child is conditioned to turn their head toward a sound source, and correct responses are reinforced with a visual reward — typically an illuminated toy or animated display. VRA allows us to test hearing across a range of frequencies and can be performed with earphones or in a sound field. It requires a child who is alert, cooperative, and able to localize sound.
For parents: VRA sessions work best when your child is well-rested and not hungry. The testing environment is designed to be engaging and non-threatening.
Conditioned Play Audiometry (CPA)
Approximately 2.5 to 5 yearsConditioned Play Audiometry is used for older toddlers and preschool-age children who can follow simple instructions and participate in a game-like task. The child is taught to perform a play activity — such as dropping a block in a bucket or placing a peg in a board — each time they hear a sound. CPA allows for more detailed frequency-specific testing and can be performed with earphones for ear-specific results.
For parents: CPA is designed to feel like a game. Most children in this age range enjoy the activity once they understand what to do.
Conventional Audiometry
Approximately 5 years and olderBy around age 5, most children can participate in a conventional hearing test similar to an adult evaluation — raising their hand or pressing a button when they hear a tone. This allows for detailed, frequency-specific, ear-specific testing across the full range of clinically relevant frequencies.
For parents: Children who are mature for their age may be able to participate in conventional audiometry earlier than age 5.
Speech Testing
All ages (adapted by developmental level)Speech testing measures how well a child can detect and understand speech. For young children, this may involve identifying pictures or pointing to familiar objects. For older children, it involves repeating words or sentences. Speech testing provides important information about how hearing loss — if present — is affecting a child's ability to access spoken language.
For parents: Speech testing results help guide decisions about hearing aids, cochlear implants, and communication support.
Tympanometry
All agesTympanometry is an objective test that measures how the eardrum and middle ear system respond to changes in air pressure. It does not require any active participation from the child and takes only a few seconds per ear. Tympanometry is used to identify middle ear fluid, eardrum perforations, and other conditions that can affect hearing — and is a routine part of most pediatric hearing evaluations.
For parents: Tympanometry is quick and painless. The child will feel a brief sensation of pressure in the ear canal.
Otoacoustic Emissions (OAEs)
All agesOtoacoustic emissions are sounds produced by the outer hair cells of the cochlea in response to a stimulus. OAE testing is objective — it does not require any behavioral response from the child — and provides information about cochlear function. OAEs are commonly used as a screening tool and as part of a comprehensive diagnostic evaluation. A pass result on OAE testing indicates that the outer hair cells are functioning; it does not rule out all types of hearing loss.
For parents: OAE testing is completely painless and takes only a minute or two. The child simply needs to be reasonably still and quiet.
What to Expect at Your Child's Hearing Evaluation
We know that bringing a child in for a hearing evaluation can feel uncertain, especially if it is your first time. Here is what a typical appointment looks like — and what to keep in mind.
Before the appointment
Try to schedule the appointment at a time when your child is typically alert and cooperative — not during their usual nap time or when they are likely to be hungry or tired. You are welcome to bring a comfort item, snack, or small toy. Let us know in advance if your child has any developmental differences, sensory sensitivities, or previous experiences with medical appointments that we should be aware of.
At the start of the appointment
We will begin by talking with you about your concerns, your child's hearing history, any relevant medical history, and how your child is doing with speech and language development. This information helps us choose the most appropriate testing approach and interpret results in context.
During testing
Testing is adapted to your child's age and developmental level. For young children, we use engaging, game-like techniques designed to feel non-threatening. You are welcome to stay with your child throughout the evaluation. We will explain what we are doing at each step and answer questions as we go.
If we cannot complete testing in one session
Very young children and children with developmental differences may not be able to provide reliable responses for a full evaluation in a single session — and that is completely normal. Hearing is too important to rush. If we are not able to obtain complete information in one appointment, we will discuss what we were able to learn and schedule a follow-up to complete the picture. We would rather take the time to do it right than draw conclusions from incomplete data.
After testing
We will review the results with you in plain language, explain what they mean for your child's hearing and development, and discuss any recommended next steps — whether that is monitoring, a referral to a physician, hearing aids, or further evaluation. You will leave with a clear understanding of where things stand and what happens next.
A note about incomplete sessions
Very young children and children with developmental differences may not be able to provide reliable responses for a complete evaluation in a single visit — and that is completely normal. Hearing is too important to rush. If we cannot obtain complete information in one appointment, we will discuss what we were able to learn and schedule a follow-up. We would rather take the time to do it right.
Comprehensive Care for Children's Hearing
Pediatric Hearing Aids
When hearing aids are recommended for a child, the fitting process is carefully adapted to the child's age, ear anatomy, and hearing loss. Pediatric hearing aid fittings use prescriptive targets specifically developed for children, and we verify the fitting with real-ear measurement to confirm that the hearing aids are delivering the right amount of amplification across all frequencies.
Children's ears grow rapidly, which means earmolds need to be remade regularly — sometimes every few months for very young children. We monitor earmold fit at follow-up appointments and remake earmolds as needed to ensure the hearing aids continue to perform correctly and comfortably.
We work with families to choose hearing aids that are durable, reliable, and appropriate for a child's activity level and lifestyle. We also provide guidance on hearing aid maintenance, troubleshooting, and how to help your child adjust to wearing hearing aids.
Pediatric Earmolds
Custom earmolds are an essential part of pediatric hearing aid fittings. A well-fitting earmold ensures that amplified sound is delivered efficiently to the ear canal, prevents feedback, and keeps the hearing aid securely in place during a child's active daily life. Because children's ears grow quickly, earmolds typically need to be replaced more frequently than in adults. We take ear impressions in-office and work with earmold laboratories to provide earmolds in a range of colors and styles that children often enjoy choosing.
Pediatric Cochlear Implant Services
For children whose hearing loss is too significant for hearing aids to provide adequate access to speech and language, cochlear implants may be an appropriate option. Dr. Dansie provides cochlear implant candidacy evaluations, mapping and programming, and ongoing audiologic follow-up for pediatric cochlear implant recipients. We work closely with cochlear implant surgical centers and teams throughout Utah to support children through every stage of the cochlear implant process.
Ongoing Hearing Monitoring
Hearing loss in children is not always stable. Some types of hearing loss can fluctuate or progress over time, and children who pass a hearing screening at one age may develop hearing difficulties later. Regular audiologic monitoring is important for children with known hearing loss, children with risk factors for progressive hearing loss, and children whose hearing concerns have not been fully resolved. We work with families to establish an appropriate monitoring schedule based on each child's individual situation.
Working with Your Child's Care Team
Hearing loss in children rarely exists in isolation. Audiologic care is most effective when it is coordinated with the other professionals involved in a child's care — and we take that coordination seriously.
We communicate with pediatricians and ENT physicians regarding medical findings, referrals, and follow-up recommendations. When hearing loss is identified, we can provide reports and consultation to support medical management decisions.
For children receiving speech-language therapy, we coordinate with speech-language pathologists to ensure that audiologic findings are informing therapy goals and that hearing aids or cochlear implants are performing optimally in the therapy setting.
For school-age children, we can provide documentation to support accommodations, FM or Roger system recommendations, and communication with school-based audiologists and special education teams.
For infants and toddlers, we work with early intervention providers and programs to ensure that children with hearing loss are receiving appropriate support during the critical early years of speech and language development.
Professionals we coordinate with
- Pediatricians & ENT physicians
- Speech-language pathologists
- Early intervention providers
- School-based audiologists
- Special education teams
- Cochlear implant surgical centers
About Dr. Dansie
Learn about Dr. Dansie's training, credentials, and approach to pediatric audiologic care.
Related pages
Comprehensive diagnostic hearing testing for adults and children
Prescription hearing aids fitted and verified with real-ear measurement
Evaluations, mapping, and programming for all three major CI systems
Credentials, PASC certification, and approach to audiologic care
Schedule a pediatric hearing evaluation at our Orem clinic
Schedule a Pediatric Hearing Evaluation
If you have concerns about your child's hearing, speech development, or listening behavior — or if your child has been referred for a hearing evaluation — we are here to help. Contact us to schedule an appointment at our Orem clinic.
Orem, Utah — serving families throughout Utah County and beyond