Audiometric tests can play an important role in evaluating hearing capacity and identifying any signs of hearing impairment at an early stage. With the help of these tests, the patient can identify the severity and the type of their hearing impairment, allowing for the best-fitted treatment or intervention, such as medical procedures or hearing aids. VRA test is an audiometric test performed for infants from six months to about two and a half to three years. The goal of VRA is to diagnose minimum response levels at different frequencies to obtain information about the child’s hearing. The VRA audiometric test involves having the child look at a visual target, like a toy or an image on a screen, in response to a sound stimulus.
What Is VRA in Medical Terms?
Visual Reinforcement Audiometry (VRA) or VRA test is a test that allows an audiologist to evaluate the hearing of infants and toddlers who are too small for normal testing.
VRA Test
Visual reinforcement audiometry (VRA) relies on behavioral conditioning to train young children to respond to sounds.
VRA Audiology Age
Visual Reinforcement Audiometry (VRA) is designed for children from 6 months to about 2 to 3 years of age. In this test, the child learns to look at the source of a sound when he hears it.
If the response is correct, the child is rewarded with a visual reinforcement such as a flashing light or a moving toy. Note that VRA testing is not available for older children.
VRA Audiology Equipment
The VRA Audiology equipment is a device called an audiometer that tests a child’s hearing threshold level. This test is administered to very young children, and doctors base their results on the children’s visual behaviors when responding to sounds.
Various VRA systems are used by audiologists, such as Flex VRA, a wireless system combining toy, animal, and cartoon video stimulation, and the VRA Screen, which presents visual rewards on screens. Standard pure-tone audiometers use headphones and a feedback button, but they are not practical for young children.
VRA Audiology Equipment
Headphone audiometry replaces visual Reinforcement Audiometry (VRA), usually with sound field speakers. Visual enhancers, such as video animations or light-up toys, are placed at 90 degrees on each side to train the child to look toward the sound.
A potential problem with the Visual Reinforcement Audiometry test is that some children cannot tolerate headphones on their ears; thus, it is necessary to use speakers at a distance to deliver the sound stimulus. However, the most appropriate equipment for assessing hearing is headphones.
What Should You Expect with Visual Reinforcement Audiometry (VRA) for Children?
Visual reinforcement audiometry (VRA) uses behavioral conditioning to teach young children to recognize and react to sounds. VRA test measures auditory sensitivity in infants and young children ages 6 months to 3 years.
While the child sits upright on the lap of a parent or caregiver in a soundproof room, the audiologist plays a sound into one of the child’s ears. Initially, the doctor lights visual boxes with sounds. This helps teach the child to respond by moving their eyes or turning their head toward the source of the sound.
Once the child understands what to do, the vision care professional can “reward” the child with a short delay of visual stimuli, making the test more interesting for the child. The higher the child’s accuracy, the more reliable the test results.
Visual Reinforcement Audiometry
During the test, the healthcare professional will reduce the intensity of the sound and stimuli until the child’s hearing threshold is reached. That is, the audiologist presents the sound stimulus at lower intensities and simultaneously records the child’s responses, continuing this process until the lowest recordable hearing threshold within the child’s hearing range is assessed.
The testing continues using different frequencies until the audiologist has a complete set of data about the child’s hearing in both ears. The VRA test is of great importance because it is capable of measuring hearing thresholds at different frequencies.
The Purpose of a VRA Test
Since young children cannot provide the audiologist with the necessary information by hearing the sound by pressing a special button, it is necessary to seek help from a VRA test. The audiologist can use the VRA test to measure your child’s hearing sensitivity.
The hearing thresholds are usually plotted on a graph called an audiogram. The audiogram shows the audible thresholds at different frequencies. The audiogram data can help the audiologist determine the degree and type of hearing loss your child might have.
Purpose of a VRA Test
What is a VRA test for? When an audiologist uses a VRA visual amplification audiometry at several frequencies to measure the child’s hearing threshold, he or she can diagnose whether the child may suffer from hearing loss or not. These healthcare specialists may be referred to an otolaryngologist.
What Happens If the Child Is Distracted during the VRA Tests?
Young children often get distracted or bored during the VRA tests and need frequent breaks. Sometimes, social reinforcement, such as clapping or cheering, can be used to supplement the visual reinforcement.
What Is the Difference Between VRA and Cor?
Visual Reinforcement Audiometry (VRA) and Conditioned Orientation Response (COR) audiometry are both behavioral hearing assessment techniques used for young children. However, they perform different procedures.
Both methods aim to assess hearing thresholds in infants and toddlers, but VRA is more typically used due to its effectiveness in maintaining a child’s attention throughout the test.
VRA Test: This approach uses engaging visual stimuli, such as flashing lights or animated toys, to verify a child’s response to sound. The child then learns to associate hearing a sound with a visual reward, which encourages consistent responses.
VRA Tests
COR Test: This technique involves training the child to turn toward a sound source and diagnosing and reinforcing the response with a reward. Unlike VRA, COR commonly requires the child to be conditioned to respond to sounds from multiple directions.
Where Are VRA Tests Performed?
Visual Reinforcement Audiometry (VRA) test requires specialized equipment and a soundproof room. It is usually performed by an audiologist, a vision care doctor, and an otolaryngologist in an ear, nose, and throat (ENT) clinic.
Final Word
By diagnosing hearing problems early, audiometric tests contribute to better communication, general well-being, and the quality of life, which prevents further complications that may arise from untreated hearing loss. Visual Reinforcement Audiometry, or VRA, is a test that allows an audiologist to assess hearing in infants and young children.
In short, while the child sits upright on the lap of a parent or caregiver in a soundproof room, the VRA test uses a device called an audiometer to evaluate children’s hearing using a visual stimulus. A standard pure tone audiometer uses headphones and a feedback button so that the patient can respond to different sound levels. The audiologist plays visual stimuli along with sounds to collect data. This test is highly practical and recommended to parents who need to evaluate their child’s hearing ability.
