This case was donated by Anna Walsingham, AuD, then with North Carolina Baptist Hospital.  It’s a pediatric case that was followed over many years.

A.M. is 2 years 8 months at his first appointment and says only “mama” and “papa”.  There is no concern for other developmental delay.

He has failed hearing screenings, though reportedly he passed a screening at birth in one ear only.  He has had recurrent ear infections, and was to receive tubes if he had another infection.

His birth and medical history are largely unremarkable. He was delivered by C-section due to labor not progressing. His grandfather has hearing loss, etiology unknown.

Tympanograms were normal.  He could not be conditioned to do play audiometry.   Preliminarily it appears that speech awareness thresholds were 15 dB HL in each ear, but the reliability was not good. He had absent otoacoustic emissions, which was not in concurrence with the 15 dB SATs.  The audiologist discussed the options – repeated visits to condition to play audiometry or sedated ABR testing. The family opted for the ABR testing.  (Click on image to see full size.)