Lesson 1Speech audiometry in paediatric patients: SRT, word recognition, age-appropriate materials, signal-to-noise testingCovers paediatric speech audiometry, including SRT, speech detection, and word recognition with age-suitable materials. Includes presentation levels, masking, and speech-in-noise tests to assess practical communication in everyday situations.
Choosing SRT versus SDT in young childrenSelecting age-appropriate word listsLive voice versus recorded speech signalsMasking rules for speech audiometryPediatric speech-in-noise test optionsLesson 2Comprehensive case history: prenatal, perinatal, developmental, infection and ototoxic exposure questionsOutlines systematic paediatric case history collection, covering prenatal, perinatal, and developmental risks. Includes infections, ototoxic drugs, noise exposure, and family history to inform differential diagnosis and testing plans.
Prenatal and perinatal risk factor questionsDevelopmental milestones and speech historyInfection, ototoxic drug, and NICU exposureFamily history of hearing loss and syndromesSummarizing risks to guide test selectionLesson 3Parent and child interview techniques and functional hearing questionnairesEmphasises rapport-building with parents and children, structured interviews, and validated functional hearing questionnaires. Strategies focus on gathering reliable data on listening habits at home, school, and in noisy environments.
Preparing the room and greeting familiesOpen and closed questions for caregiversAge-appropriate child interview strategiesSelecting functional hearing questionnairesScoring and interpreting questionnaire resultsLesson 4Otoscopy: visualisation techniques, identifying cerumen, TM changes, retraction, perforationReviews paediatric otoscopy methods, including safe speculum use, positioning, and lighting. Trains recognition of cerumen, tympanic membrane features, retraction, perforation, and urgent referral signs.
Preparing the child and caregiver for otoscopySpeculum size, bracing, and safety tipsNormal tympanic membrane landmarksRecognizing cerumen, effusion, and retractionPerforations and red flags for referralLesson 5Test environment and paediatric test accommodations: managing attention, fatigue, scheduling, and breaksDescribes ideal paediatric test settings with noise control, child-friendly spaces, and flexible timing. Covers handling attention, fatigue, anxiety via breaks or multiple sessions for reliable results.
Room setup and ambient noise controlScheduling around naps, meals, and schoolManaging attention, motivation, and anxietyUse of breaks, reinforcement, and rewardsPlanning multi-session test batteriesLesson 6Acoustic reflex testing: ipsilateral and contralateral reflexes, reflex decay, clinical interpretationExplains acoustic reflex testing for children, covering probe placement, stimuli, ipsilateral/contralateral reflexes. Stresses reflex decay, artefacts, and integration with tympanometry and audiometry.
Probe fit and baseline tympanogram reviewChoosing stimulus frequencies and levelsIpsilateral versus contralateral reflex patternsReflex decay procedures and interpretationClinical case integration and documentationLesson 7Behavioural audiometry for school-age children: conditioned play audiometry (CPA) adaptations, instructions, reinforcement schedulesExamines behavioural audiometry for school-age kids, highlighting conditioned play audiometry and standard methods. Discusses instructions, reinforcements, and task adjustments for attention and development.
Selecting CPA versus conventional audiometryDesigning engaging play-based response tasksGiving clear, age-appropriate instructionsReinforcement schedules and token systemsManaging inconsistent or false-positive responsesLesson 8Documentation and report writing: clear, actionable reports for families and multidisciplinary teamsGuides writing clear, family-focused paediatric audiology reports using simple language, visuals, and practical advice for home, school, medical teams, while adhering to legal standards.
Essential elements of pediatric reportsWriting in clear, family-friendly languageSummarizing audiologic findings and impactEducational and medical recommendationsTemplates, checklists, and legal standardsLesson 9Pure-tone audiometry procedures: transducer selection (earphones vs speakers), masking rules, threshold definitionDetails paediatric pure-tone audiometry setup, transducer choices, ear-specific tests, child-friendly cues. Covers threshold methods, masking, reliability for accurate air/bone conduction results.
Choosing earphones, inserts, or sound fieldConditioning children to the listening taskModified Hughson–Westlake threshold methodWhen and how to apply masking in pediatricsAssessing reliability and repeating doubtful dataLesson 10Tympanometry: types (1, 2, 3, Ad, As), probe selection, interpreting results by ageCovers paediatric tympanometry types, age-based probe tones, seal techniques. Focuses on interpreting tympanograms and canal volume in infants/children, linking to middle ear status and referrals.
Jerger tympanogram types I, II, III, Ad, As226 vs 1000 Hz probe tones in infantsEar canal volume and seal quality checksInterpreting compliance, pressure, and gradientClinical case examples and documentation
