Your child’s hearing is the invisible foundation of everything they will ever say. Yet thousands of South African parents only discover a hearing issue after months — sometimes years — of unexplained speech delays, school struggles, or a failed routine screening. If you’ve been searching for an audiology clinic in Randburg, this guide will walk you through exactly what to expect, when to book, and why early hearing assessment can change your child’s trajectory.
What Does an Audiology Clinic Do?
An audiology clinic specialises in the assessment, diagnosis, and management of hearing and balance disorders. Unlike a general GP or ear-nose-throat specialist, a registered audiologist focuses exclusively on how sound is processed — from the outer ear canal all the way to the auditory cortex in the brain.
At Speak Clearly’s audiology clinic in Randburg, our services include:
- Paediatric hearing assessments — from newborns to teenagers
- Auditory Brainstem Response (ABR) testing — objective testing for babies and young children who can’t yet cooperate with conventional audiometry
- Otoacoustic Emissions (OAEs) — a quick, painless test that checks whether the inner ear (cochlea) is functioning correctly
- Tympanometry — assesses middle ear function and detects fluid or pressure problems (common with glue ear)
- Speech audiometry — measures how well your child can hear and understand spoken words
- Hearing aid fitting and aftercare
- Referrals for cochlear implant assessment when indicated
Many parents aren’t sure how audiology differs from speech therapy. Our audiologists and speech-language therapists work closely together because the two disciplines overlap significantly — especially in children. Hearing loss is one of the most common underlying causes of speech and language delays. If your child has been referred for speech therapy for a suspected delay, a hearing assessment is often the first recommended step.
When Should Your Child See an Audiologist in Randburg?
The earlier, the better — but there are specific warning signs that should prompt an immediate referral rather than a “wait and see” approach.
By Age Group
| Age | Expected Hearing Behaviour | Red Flag |
|---|---|---|
| 0–3 months | Startles to loud sounds; quiets to familiar voice | No reaction to loud noises at all |
| 4–6 months | Turns eyes/head toward sounds; babbles | No babbling; no response to own name |
| 7–12 months | Responds to name; imitates simple sounds | No consonant sounds (ba, da, ma); no pointing |
| 1–2 years | First words; understands simple instructions | No first words by 15 months; fewer than 50 words by 24 months |
| 2–4 years | Two-word phrases; follows two-step instructions | Unclear speech; often asks “what?” or “huh?” |
| School age | Follows classroom instructions; participates in conversation | Struggles in school; mishears frequently; speaks too loudly |
Additional red flags at any age:
- Recurrent ear infections (more than three in one year)
- History of glue ear (otitis media with effusion)
- Family history of childhood hearing loss
- Born premature or with low birth weight
- Jaundice requiring phototherapy at birth
- Child watches TV at very high volume or asks for repetitions constantly
- Teacher or school nurse flags a concern
If any of these apply to your child, don’t wait. Book a hearing assessment — early identification consistently leads to better speech, language, and learning outcomes. South Africa’s Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA) recommends universal newborn hearing screening, but community-level screening coverage remains uneven, which means many children’s hearing problems go undetected until school age.
What to Expect at Your First Audiology Appointment
Walking into any clinic for the first time can feel daunting — especially when it’s your child being assessed. Here’s what a typical first appointment at our Randburg audiology clinic looks like, step by step.
Step 1: Case History (10–15 minutes)
Your audiologist will ask about your child’s birth history, medical history, family hearing history, and the specific concerns that brought you in. Bring any previous audiology reports, school screening results, or letters from your paediatrician — even if they’re years old.
Step 2: Otoscopy (2–3 minutes)
A quick look into the ear canal with a handheld otoscope checks for earwax build-up, foreign objects, or signs of infection or perforation. This is completely painless and takes about a minute per ear.
Step 3: Tympanometry (5 minutes)
A small probe is placed gently in the ear canal. It sends a tiny puff of air and a tone into the ear to measure how well the eardrum and middle ear bones are moving. This detects fluid behind the eardrum (glue ear) — a very common childhood condition in South Africa that can significantly muffle hearing.
Step 4: Hearing Testing (20–40 minutes, depending on age)
The specific test used depends on your child’s age and cooperation level:
- Newborns and babies (0–6 months): Automated ABR or OAE screening — done while baby sleeps, no cooperation needed
- Toddlers (6 months–3 years): Visual Reinforcement Audiometry (VRA) — child is conditioned to turn toward sounds; a toy lights up as a reward
- Pre-schoolers (2.5–5 years): Play audiometry — child is taught to perform a simple action (drop a block, press a button) when they hear a sound
- School-age children and older: Conventional pure-tone audiometry — child listens to tones and raises their hand or presses a button when they hear something
Step 5: Results, Feedback, and Next Steps (10–15 minutes)
Your audiologist will explain your child’s audiogram (the graph of hearing thresholds) in plain language. If hearing is within normal limits, you’ll receive reassurance and, if needed, a referral pathway for further speech-language or educational assessment. If a hearing loss is confirmed, your audiologist will outline management options — which may include medical referral, hearing aids, or onward specialist assessment.
Total appointment time: 45–75 minutes for a comprehensive paediatric assessment. Bring snacks and a comfort item for younger children — familiar objects help keep little ones calm and cooperative.
How Hearing Health Supports Speech and Language Development
Hearing is not a passive sense — it is the primary input channel for language learning. Children learn to speak by listening. They acquire vocabulary, sentence structure, and pronunciation almost entirely by processing the sounds around them from birth.
When hearing is compromised — even mildly — the effects ripple through every area of language development:
- Reduced vocabulary: Children with mild hearing loss may miss up to 50% of classroom instruction, leading to significant vocabulary gaps by Grade 1
- Articulation errors: Children who can’t hear high-frequency sounds (like /s/, /sh/, /f/, /th/) often omit or distort these sounds in their own speech
- Reading difficulties: Phonological awareness — the ability to hear and manipulate sounds — underpins early literacy. Compromised hearing directly affects reading readiness
- Social and emotional impact: Children who mishear frequently may become withdrawn, frustrated, or labelled as “difficult” or “inattentive” at school
This is why our audiology and speech therapy teams work in close collaboration. If your child is already receiving speech therapy for a speech delay or disorder, and hearing has not yet been formally assessed, we strongly recommend scheduling a hearing assessment alongside ongoing therapy. In many cases, addressing a hearing issue accelerates speech therapy outcomes dramatically.
South Africa’s multilingual environment adds another layer. Many children are exposed to two or more languages at home and at school. While multilingualism does not cause speech delays, it can make hearing loss harder to detect — because a child’s communication differences may initially be attributed to language exposure rather than auditory function. A formal hearing assessment removes that uncertainty.
Medical Aid Coverage for Audiology in South Africa
Most South African medical aids cover paediatric hearing assessments, though the extent of cover varies by scheme and option level. Here’s a general overview:
- Discovery Health: Covers hearing assessments under Scheme Specialist benefits; hearing aids may be covered under chronic or PMB (Prescribed Minimum Benefit) pathways for confirmed hearing loss
- Bonitas: Covers audiological consultations on most options; hearing aids attract sub-limits
- Momentum Health: Audiological assessments covered under specialist consultations on most plans
- Bestmed: Covers hearing screening and assessments; PMB conditions (bilateral hearing loss) attract prescribed cover
Always contact your scheme before your appointment to confirm whether pre-authorisation is required for a specialist audiology visit. At Speak Clearly, our admin team can assist with medical aid queries — just ask when you book.
Frequently Asked Questions About Our Audiology Clinic in Randburg
A paediatric audiology clinic specialises in assessing and managing hearing and balance disorders in children, from newborns to teenagers. Unlike adult audiology services, paediatric audiologists use age-appropriate testing techniques — such as Visual Reinforcement Audiometry and play audiometry — and are trained to work with young, uncooperative, or developmentally delayed children. At Speak Clearly’s Randburg clinic, our audiologists also work alongside speech-language therapists to provide integrated assessment and support for children where hearing and communication difficulties overlap.
In South Africa, newborn hearing screening is recommended within the first month of life as part of the HPCSA’s Early Hearing Detection and Intervention (EHDI) guidelines. If your baby was not screened at birth, a hearing test should be arranged as soon as a concern arises — there is no age too young. Routine hearing checks are also recommended before school entry (around age 5–6). For older children, any concerns about hearing, speech, or school performance warrant a formal assessment regardless of age.
Yes — we can test hearing from birth. Infants are assessed using objective techniques that require no active participation: Otoacoustic Emissions (OAEs) and Auditory Brainstem Response (ABR) testing measure how the inner ear and auditory nerve respond to sound while the baby is asleep or settled. These tests are painless, non-invasive, and typically take 20–40 minutes. We recommend scheduling baby appointments during a natural nap time for best results.
The cost of a paediatric hearing assessment at Speak Clearly varies depending on the tests required (OAE screening, tympanometry, full audiometric battery, or ABR). Most medical aids cover audiology assessments — contact your scheme to confirm your benefits before booking. For self-pay patients, we offer transparent pricing and will confirm costs during the booking process. Contact us directly on +27 (71) 895-4592 or at kaitlin@speakclearly.co.za for a quote.
An audiologist assesses, diagnoses, and manages hearing and balance disorders. A speech-language therapist (also called a speech therapist) assesses and treats communication difficulties, including speech sounds, language, fluency, voice, and swallowing. While the roles are distinct, they overlap significantly in children — hearing loss is a common cause of speech and language delays, and the two disciplines work closely together. At Speak Clearly, our audiologists and speech therapists collaborate to ensure children receive integrated, holistic support.
A failed school hearing screening is not a diagnosis — it is a flag that a full diagnostic hearing assessment is needed. Many children fail screenings due to temporary conditions like earwax, a head cold, or fluid in the middle ear (glue ear), which resolve on their own or with brief medical treatment. Others may have a more significant hearing loss that requires management. In either case, the right next step is a comprehensive audiological assessment at a registered clinic like Speak Clearly, not a “wait and see” approach.
Most South African medical aids cover paediatric hearing assessments, including Discovery Health, Bonitas, Momentum Health, and Bestmed. Coverage levels vary depending on your option and scheme. Hearing aids may also be partially or fully covered, particularly where a Prescribed Minimum Benefit (PMB) condition (such as bilateral hearing loss affecting daily functioning) is confirmed. We recommend contacting your scheme to confirm benefits and pre-authorisation requirements before your appointment.
A diagnosis of hearing loss can feel overwhelming, but the path forward is clear and well-supported. Your audiologist will explain the type and degree of hearing loss (conductive, sensorineural, or mixed; mild to profound) and recommend appropriate management — which may include medical referral for conditions like glue ear, hearing aid fitting, auditory verbal therapy, or assessment for cochlear implants in cases of severe-to-profound loss. Early intervention is the single most important factor in outcome — children fitted with hearing aids early and enrolled in therapy consistently achieve communication outcomes within the normal range.
Book Your Child’s Hearing Assessment in Randburg
If you have any concern about your child’s hearing — no matter how small — trust that instinct. Early assessment is always better than waiting. Our Randburg audiology clinic team is warm, experienced with young children, and fully equipped for comprehensive paediatric hearing assessment.
📞 Call us: +27 (71) 895-4592
📧 Email: kaitlin@speakclearly.co.za
We see children from Randburg, Sandton, Fourways, Roodepoort, and across the greater Johannesburg area. Same-week appointments are often available — get in touch today.