Pediatric Hearing Care
Pediatric audiology is specialized healthcare for infants and young children with hearing or sound recognition difficulties. At Citrus Hearing Clinic, we provide comprehensive diagnostic and rehabilitation services to determine the type and degree of hearing loss in children. Early identification of hearing problems is essential for normal speech and language development, as well as social development. Our audiologists, Dr. Laura Bradley Pratesi and Dr. Teresa J. Parsons, bring both professional expertise and personal experience with hearing devices to provide exceptional care for your child.
Take Our Hearing Health Quiz
Our quick 2-minute quiz can help identify potential hearing concerns that might be affecting your daily life.
Struggling with tinnitus?
Take our quick quiz for a personalized treatment plan.
.jpg)
The Importance of Early Hearing Intervention
Identifying and addressing hearing issues early in a child's life has profound effects on their development. When hearing loss goes undetected, children may experience delays in speech, language, and social skills that can impact their academic performance and confidence.
Our team uses advanced testing methods tailored to your child's age and developmental stage to ensure accurate diagnosis. As Clinical Directors for Florida Special Olympics Hearing Health, we understand the unique needs of children with hearing challenges and are committed to providing personalized care.
At Citrus Hearing Clinic, we work with all three major cochlear implant manufacturers, allowing us to recommend the system that best suits each patient's unique needs and preferences.
Cochlear Americas
Cochlear Americas offers innovative implant systems known for reliability and a strong support network. Their processors feature advanced connectivity options for streaming audio directly from smartphones and other devices. The Nucleus system includes unique features like a slim, off-the-ear processor option and water-resistant accessories for active lifestyles.
Med-EL
Med-EL implants are designed with a focus on preserving delicate inner ear structures and natural hearing when possible. They offer the longest electrode arrays in the industry, which may provide better coverage of the entire cochlea. Their processors are known for excellent music appreciation capabilities and MRI compatibility without magnet removal in many cases.
Advanced Bionics
Advanced Bionics devices, developed in partnership with Phonak, feature sophisticated sound processing strategies that excel in challenging listening environments. Their processors offer excellent water resistance options for swimming and water activities, along with direct connectivity to compatible devices for streaming audio content.
What to Expect at a Pedriatic Audiology Appointment?
At Citrus Hearing Clinic, we create a comfortable, child-friendly environment for pediatric hearing evaluations. Our approach focuses on thorough assessment and clear communication with parents. We take the time to listen to your concerns and observations, as parents often notice subtle signs of hearing difficulties that are valuable to our diagnostic process.
We begin by discussing your concerns about your child's hearing, speech, language, or balance and answering any questions you may have.
We explain the testing methods appropriate for your child's age, which may be performed that day or scheduled for a future appointment.
After testing, our audiologists explain any identified issues and recommend treatment options with detailed information about success rates.
We create custom earmolds, swim plugs, and hearing protection designed specifically for children's ears.
Deaf Related Children Authors
At Citrus Hearing Clinic, we support children's books that help young readers understand and embrace hearing differences. These authors create stories featuring characters with hearing aids and cochlear implants that promote self-advocacy, acceptance, and confidence – values we champion in our pediatric audiology services.
Extraordinary Jordyn and her Bionic Ears is an encouraging story about a young elementary school girl who is passionate about space and self-advocacy.
In this short story, the reader will explore Jordyn as she learns to overcome being judged for having a cochlear implant and a hearing aid. This story is meant to uplift children like Jordyn who may be learning to accept and celebrate their unique differences.
Get The Book Here
I Deaf-initely Can, Rhett the Heeler is a heartwarming story about a deaf shelter dog and his adoption by Karlie, a deaf girl.
Written from Rhett's perspective, the book follows their journey as they learn sign language together and prove that deafness doesn't limit possibilities. Through colorful illustrations and personal experience, author Karlie Waldrip celebrates differences and shows readers that everyone "deaf-initely can" overcome challenges.
Get The Book Here
Join Karlie and Rhett in their latest book "We Deaf-initely Can, Let the Adventures Begin", as they embark on new and exciting journeys together.
Start your day with them, explore fun adventures, and end with a celebration of bravery in trying new things. Immerse yourself in sign language and witness how they embrace the joy of going on adventures.
Get The Book Here
Signimalz is a unique Sign Language Alphabet book that depicts animals fingerspelling individual letters of the American Sign Language alphabet.
This book can be used as a teaching resource for Deaf and Hard of Hearing students or as a fun learning tool for everyone.
Get The Book HereSigns include speech and language delays, listening to TV or music at loud volumes, speaking loudly, frequently asking for repetition, attention problems, only responding when face-to-face, delayed reactions when spoken to, not responding when called, and difficulty following directions.
All newborns should have a hearing screening before leaving the hospital. If your child didn't receive this screening or if you have concerns about their hearing at any age, we recommend scheduling an evaluation right away.
During your visit, we'll discuss your concerns regarding your child's hearing, speech, language, or balance. We'll explain the testing methods appropriate for your child's age and perform evaluations either that day or at a scheduled appointment. After testing, we'll explain any identified issues and recommend treatment options.
Yes, children of all ages can be fitted with hearing aids. Today's pediatric hearing aids are designed specifically for children's needs, with durable construction, safety features, and the ability to connect to classroom technology.
We use Real Ear Measurements to verify that your child's hearing aids are providing appropriate amplification. We also teach parents how to perform daily listening checks and maintain the devices properly.
As an Approved Provider participating in the Children's Hearing Aid Program (CHAP), we help families access financial assistance programs. We also recommend children's books that help young ones understand hearing differences, including "I Deaf-initely Can" and "Extraordinary Jordyn and her Bionic Ears."
Frequently Asked Questions About Pediatric Hearing Care
We understand parents have many questions about their child's hearing health. Here are answers to common questions we receive at our clinic.
Schedule Your Child's Hearing Evaluation
If you have concerns about your child's hearing or speech development, contact Citrus Hearing Clinic today to schedule a pediatric hearing evaluation. Our experienced audiologists create a comfortable, child-friendly environment where young patients feel at ease. As an independent practice, we have the flexibility to spend the necessary time with your child to ensure thorough assessment and personalized care recommendations.
Call us at 352-989-5123 to schedule your child's appointment at our Clermont location.
Contact us
Clinic Location
Clermont, FL 34711
Opening Hours
Saturday - Sunday: Closed
