Onsite Audiology, LLC

02/25/2026

Cochlear implants are no longer a “last resort” — they’re a timely treatment option for many people who continue to struggle with communication despite appropriately fit hearing aids.

Modern cochlear implant candidacy emphasizes functional hearing ability, not just what appears on an audiogram. Many adults have hearing thresholds that suggest amplification should help — yet still experience significant difficulty with speech understanding, especially in noise, group settings, or at a distance. When hearing aids provide only partial benefit, earlier referral for cochlear implant evaluation can be life-changing.

Evidence shows that earlier implantation is associated with better speech perception outcomes, improved quality of life, and reduced social isolation. Waiting until hearing loss becomes profound can mean prolonged communication challenges during a period when the auditory system and brain could still adapt more effectively.

02/24/2026

Congenital cytomegalovirus (cCMV) is one of the leading causes of pediatric sensorineural hearing loss — and many affected babies appear completely healthy at birth.

When a newborn does not pass their hearing screen, targeted cCMV testing within the early diagnostic window can provide critical insight into why hearing differences are present. Identifying cCMV early helps guide long-term audiologic monitoring, medical management, and family counseling, especially since hearing loss related to cCMV can be delayed-onset or progressive.

Newborn hearing screening can be the first clue — but pairing it with timely diagnostic follow-up and appropriate medical evaluation strengthens the entire system of care. Early identification allows families and providers to anticipate change, monitor proactively, and intervene when it matters most.

02/23/2026

Access to sound does not automatically mean access to language.

A child may detect sounds at soft levels and still struggle with clarity, consistency, or comprehension — especially in real-world listening environments like background noise, group settings, or distance from the speaker. Hearing thresholds alone can’t capture how well speech is being processed, organized, and used for communication.

That’s why true hearing healthcare goes beyond audiograms. It asks whether a child can functionally access spoken language across daily environments — at home, in school, and during social interaction. Functional listening, speech perception, and real-world communication outcomes matter just as much as detection.

02/22/2026

Speech testing doesn’t require spoken words.

For non-verbal or minimally verbal children, audiologists assess speech access, not speech production. The goal is to understand how well a child is perceiving and processing speech, especially with their current hearing technology.

To do this, clinicians may use tools such as:
• Closed-set picture identification tasks
• Pattern perception measures that evaluate detection and discrimination
• Early Speech Perception (ESP) measures designed for young or non-speaking children

These approaches allow audiologists to evaluate speech understanding without requiring verbal responses, making assessment more accessible, inclusive, and developmentally appropriate.

The most important question isn’t “Can this child talk?” — it’s:
👉 Is this child meaningfully accessing speech with their current technology?

When assessment focuses on access, it supports better clinical decisions, more accurate programming, and timely intervention — ensuring every child has the opportunity to build communication in ways that work for them. 💛👂🧠

02/22/2026

Thank you The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association for highlighting this important message regarding mobile hearing care. After a long day of serving in the community, this is a reminder that this work is vital and continues to make us excited about the possibilities of mobile hearing care in the future. Tiny House Hearing, Inc.

New technologies and alternative models for delivering care will amplify audiologists’ community reach and bolster patient access.  

02/21/2026

Many pediatric hearing differences have a genetic component — and identifying the underlying etiology can meaningfully shape care across a child’s lifetime.

Understanding why hearing loss occurs can:
• Inform prognosis, including stability or likelihood of progression
• Guide monitoring, helping clinicians anticipate and track change
• Identify associated health risks, such as vision, cardiac, renal, or balance concerns in syndromic conditions
• Support family counseling, planning, and informed decision-making

Etiologic evaluation isn’t about labeling — it’s about providing clarity. When families understand the cause of a child’s hearing difference, care becomes more proactive, coordinated, and personalized. Genetic insight allows audiologists and medical teams to move beyond thresholds and toward whole-child, long-term outcomes.

Comprehensive hearing healthcare doesn’t stop at detection or diagnosis. It includes understanding origins, anticipating needs, and supporting families with knowledge that empowers action. 👶👂🧬

02/20/2026

By the end of the first year of life, listening becomes more intentional and meaningful — laying the groundwork for language, learning, and connection.

Many babies at this stage:
• Turn toward familiar and unfamiliar sounds
• Respond to their name
• Show increased variety in babbling and vocal patterns
• Attend to music, rhythm, and changes in tone

These listening behaviors are more than milestones — they reflect how the brain is organizing sound to support communication. As auditory pathways strengthen, infants begin to use listening to make sense of their world, paving the way for first words and social interaction.

02/19/2026

Hearing milestones aren’t about perfection — they’re about patterns and progress.

In the first 6 months of life, many infants:
✔ Startle or quiet in response to sudden sounds
✔ Turn toward or respond to caregiver voices
✔ Begin cooing and exploring vocal play

While each child develops at their own pace, families are often the first to notice when responses seem inconsistent. Early awareness is powerful — it allows caregivers to seek evaluation promptly, connecting children to audiology services and early intervention when needed.

Monitoring patterns, rather than perfection, helps ensure children receive timely support for speech, language, and cognitive development. Early action can make a lifelong difference. 👶💛👂

02/18/2026

Pediatric hearing diagnosis is never a single test — it’s a comprehensive test battery designed to give a complete picture of a child’s auditory system. And the best part? It doesn’t always require a traditional sound booth.

Audiologists use a layered approach, combining:
• Physiologic testing like immittance and otoacoustic emissions (OAEs)
• Electrophysiology, such as diagnostic auditory brainstem response (ABR) when indicated
• Developmentally appropriate behavioral measures as children grow

This multi-pronged strategy reduces uncertainty and ensures timely, accurate diagnosis, even in infants and toddlers who cannot respond to standard hearing tests.

02/17/2026

The 1–3–6 timeline isn’t arbitrary — it’s grounded in how the brain develops during infancy.

👶 Screen by 1 month
👂 Diagnose by 3 months
🧠 Begin intervention by 6 months

Why does timing matter so much? Because the first months of life are a critical period for auditory brain development. Early access to sound supports the formation of neural pathways that are essential for speech, language, social connection, and learning.

When hearing differences are identified early — and families are connected promptly to diagnostic care and early intervention — children have significantly better outcomes in communication and overall development. Delays in diagnosis or intervention can mean missed opportunities during this key developmental window, when the brain is most responsive to auditory input.

The 1–3–6 benchmarks provide a roadmap for coordinated, family-centered care — ensuring newborn hearing screening leads to meaningful action, not just results on paper. Early hearing care truly lays the foundation for lifelong communication. 💛👂🧠

02/16/2026

Newborn hearing screening is no longer just a quick “pass or refer” moment — it’s part of an evolving, evidence-based system of care designed to support lifelong communication and development.

Today’s newborn hearing screening programs commonly use otoacoustic emissions (OAE) to assess cochlear (inner ear) function and automated auditory brainstem response (AABR) to evaluate how sound travels along the auditory nerve and brainstem pathways. Many hospitals now use two-stage screening protocols, which research shows can significantly reduce false positives and improve early identification of hearing differences, including neural hearing conditions.

The most important advancement, however, isn’t technology alone — it’s timely follow-up for babies who may "refer/fail" their initial screening. Follow-up ,is only effective when families are quickly connected to diagnostic audiologic evaluation and early intervention services. Evidence consistently shows that early identification and early intervention lead to better speech, language, and developmental outcomes for infants and young children with hearing differences.

Newborn hearing screening is the first step — coordinated care, prompt follow-up, and family-centered support are what truly make the difference. 👶💛👂

02/15/2026

👂🧠 Why Addressing Hearing Loss Matters Over Time

Hearing loss is a common part of the human experience, and for many people, access to hearing care and support can offer meaningful long-term benefits when and if they choose treatment.

📚 Research shows that appropriate hearing care may:
• Support communication and listening ease in daily environments
• Reduce listening effort and fatigue
• Help people stay engaged in social, family, and work activities
• Support brain health and cognitive resilience over time
• Improve overall quality of life and well-being

Early identification allows individuals to explore options—whether that includes technology, communication strategies, or environmental supports—on their own terms.

Hearing care is not about “fixing” people. It’s about access, choice, and support for how we connect with the world. 💙