Pediatric visual reinforcement audiometry (VRA)

What is a pediatric visual reinforcement audiometry (VRA) test?

Visual reinforcement audiometry (VRA) is a test that allows an audiologist to assess hearing in infants and toddlers too young for normal tests. VRA relies on behavioral conditioning to train very young kids to respond to sounds. It is designed for children aged 6 months to around 2 to 3 years old.

VRA uses a machine called an audiometer to test a child's hearing threshold levels. Standard pure tone audiometers use headphones and a feedback button, so they are not practical for young kids. VRA replaces the headphones with earphones (usually with foam tips) or sound field speakers. Visual reinforcers such as video animations or lighted toys are placed 90-degrees to each side of the patient to "train" the child to look toward the direction of the sound.

What can I expect with a pediatric visual reinforcement audiometry (VRA) test?

Video reinforcement audiometry uses a machine called an audiometer to assess a child's hearing threshold levels. A standard pure tone audiometer uses headphones and a feedback button so a patient can respond to different sound levels.

Because the device is too complex for very young children, VRA usually includes the following modifications:

• Earphones - Young children don't respond well to normal headphones, so VRA relies on transducers inserted into the child's ears. They may have either foam tips or personal ear molds made for your child's ears. Earphones may also use bone conduction vibration for improved accuracy.

• Sound field speakers - Like headphones, earphones may be uncomfortable for certain infants and toddlers. In some cases, the audiologist may rely on "surround sound" speakers to perform the tests.

• Visual reinforcers - Because very young children can't respond to sounds by clicking a button, VRA uses visual reinforcers instead. These can be video-based or made up of animated toys placed in dark Plexiglas boxes located 90-degrees to each side of the child. The boxes are lit to elicit a head turn associated with a sound source.

Visual reinforcement audiology (VRA) measures hearing sensitivity in infants and young toddlers aged 6 months to 3 years. While the child sits upright on a parent or caregiver's lap in a soundproof room, the audiologist plays a tone or some other sound to one of the child's ears. At first, the audiologist lights up the boxes in conjunction with the sound. This "trains" the child to respond by shifting her eyes or turning her head toward the sound source. Once a child understands what to do, the audiologist can "reward" the child by briefly delaying the visual stimuli.

During the test, the audiologist reduces the intensity of both the sound and the stimuli until the child's minimum hearing threshold is reached. Tests continue using different frequencies until the audiologist has a complete set of data about your child's hearing in both ears.

What can I expect during pediatric visual reinforcement audiometry (VRA) testing?

The child sits upright on a parent or caregiver’s lap in a soundproof room. The audiologist will trigger visual stimuli in conjunction with sounds to collect the data.