Philosophy

Visual reinforcement audiometry (VRA) is the technique of choice for the assessment of hearing in children between 6 and 30 months. The introduction of newborn hearing screening means that Paediatric Audiology departments need to have frequency-specific behavioural threshold information from around six months of age.

In order to benefit from early identification of hearing loss, children require repeated assessment as part of the process of management of hearing loss. VRA is crucial for acquiring reliable, ear-specific threshold information.

Many of these children will have repeat assessments at frequent and regular intervals over the first two years of life. The visual reinforcement system will require flexibility and adaptability to maintain the child’s interest over this period.

Children with communication disorders frequently present a challenge to traditional test techniques of distraction or conditioning paradigms, but may show enhanced interest to sources of light or colour movements.

The Opus Visual Reinforcement Systems have been designed to the specifications of a paediatric audiological scientist.