Children's Auditory Research and Evaluation
(CARE) Center
The CARE Clinic provides hearing screening services for infants who either did not pass a hearing screening in the hospital, or who were not offered screening in the hospital where they were born. The CARE clinic is certified as an "Outpatient Infant Hearing Screening Provider" by the California Department of Health, Children's Medical Services Branch. In addition, the CARE clinic is a California Children's Services (CCS)-Approved Type C Communication Disorders Center, which deems the clinic appropriate for providing comprehensive services to infants and children of all ages.
Infants are screened for hearing loss using an automated auditory brainstem response (ABR) test, developed and patented in our laboratories, as well as oto-acoustic emissions (OAE) screening tests. The ABR test requires three small band-aid-type electrodes to be attached on the baby's forehead and behind the ears. Both ABR and OAE involve placing a small earphone in the infant's ear while they sleep. The test takes only a few minutes. The screening result determines whether more extensive hearing evaluations are needed. If an infant does not pass the screening, a full hearing test (diagnostic test) will be scheduled as soon as possible. For information on admission policies, insurance, parking and location, please go to General Information.
