People as why a mobile hearing test service is the best option for children, and I tell them:
1. Children are often more comfortable in their home environment. This means the chidren are more likely to be in the correct frame of mind to participate to their best ability in a hearing test. It also means it is often quicker and easier for the audiologist and the child to find common ground and get the job done!
2. The audiologist is able to adapt the test to the current conditions. For example, in times when there is a greater risk from a pandemic, the test equipment is portable and no needing an extra power supply, so the child can be tested outdoors to limit the risk of increased viral load in closed environments.
3.. It makes life easier for the whole family as there is no travel time or associated travel costs. Our audiologist comes to your home which means there is no need to fight traffic or pack any extra children in the car.
4. The audiologist is able to get a good indication of how the child hears in their own home environment, as opposed to the artificial clinic environment, and can make a better real-life assessment of hearing function.
5. Some children have a fear of medical professionals and clinical environments from a past experience. By our audiologist coming to your home, it seems more like a friendly visit and game than a medical test. We have even had children ask if we can come back to play another day!
6. Parents/carers are able to see how their child responds under test conditions in a familiar environment. The audiologist will be able to discuss specific issues that may be occurring with the child's hearing in the home so you can make changes to your environment.
7. The audiologist is able to attend daycare/nurseries/school environments and work closely with teachers and staff members in the school and supported workplace setting to collaborate with goal setting and adjust the classroom/workplace for optimum hearing.
So what do we need to attend your home? All we ask is that we have a quiet location with little distraction in order to conduct the testing and that an adult is home to assist with the health history and testing (if required).
Comments