Audiologists in Audiologists in the Schools the Schools Kirsten Marconi-Hutkay, Au.D., Kirsten Marconi-Hutkay, Au.D., CCC-A CCC-A Educational Audiologist Educational Audiologist Stark County Educational Service Stark County Educational Service Center Center
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Audiologists in the Audiologists in the SchoolsSchools
Audiologists in the Audiologists in the SchoolsSchools
• Conductive: Occurs because there is a problem in the outer or middle ear. Sound (voices, music) is too soft. Can usually be medically or surgically treated, but is sometimes permanent. – Will benefit from amplification and assistive listening
• Sensorineural: The problem is in the inner ear (cochlea or 8th cranial nerve). Sound is not only too soft, but also distorted. Can not be treated medically or surgically, resulting in permanent hearing loss. Will benefit from amplification, cochlear implant(s), assistive devices and aural rehabilitation. – Ex: Noise induced, ototoxic meds,
infections/illnesses, genetic, trauma, anatomical malformation of cochlea or cranial nerve.
Types of Hearing Loss
• Mixed: Combination of a conductive and sensorineural loss. – Ex: noise induced loss and an ear infection
have the same parts:– Program switch– Volume control– Battery compartment– Earhook– On/off switch– Microphone(s)
• Earmolds:– Tubing– Sound bore– Vent (maybe)
MicrophoneEarhook
Program switch
On/OffBattery Compartment
Tubing
Sound Bore
Hearing Aids:• Hearing aid can’t and won’t restore normal hearing!
• Hearing aids can only AMPLIFY sounds; they can not prevent or eliminate the distortion resulting from the hearing loss.
• Just because the child hears you doesn’t mean that they understand you. Even with hearing aids, a child with a hearing impairment is putting forth much more effort than a child with normal hearing to keep with daily activities. They have to “work” to listen.
•“Did you hear what I said?”
•“Can you tell me what I said?”
• Hearing aids run on batteries that must be changed periodically. The teacher or speech-language pathologist (or the child) should have extra batteries on hand in case of an emergency.
Hearing Aids
How Do I Know it’s Working?!?
* Ling 6 Sound Test* Hearing Aid Checklist
Troubleshooting 101: *Does it need a new battery?*Is it clogged with wax?*Is it turned on? (Should be in the “M” position)
~The Ling 6 Sound Test~
This test allows for a quick and easy way to check and see that your student is able to hear sounds within his/her range of hearing! It also helps you as a teacher to get an idea of your student’s DISTANCE OF
HEARING -or- EARSHOT.
These are the “Ling 6 Sounds”Ah MmOo ShEe Ss
Each morning, before class, say these sounds to the student. Make sure that they are not able to read your lips. Continue saying the
sounds while gradually moving further away. Note the greatest distance that they are able to hear and repeat the sounds.
Helpful Hints:
* Switch around which sounds you say…don’t say them in a predictable pattern each day
* TAKE CARE TO PRODUCE EACH SOUND AT NORMAL CONVERSATIONAL LOUDNESS!! Don’t increase your intensity as you increase your distance.
* Take care not to increase the length of the sounds.
How will I know if his/her hearing has changed?!?
* Depending on the hearing loss, hearing for that day, ambient room noise and hearing aid efficiency, most of the vowels should be heard out to 15 feet and beyond. Due to their weak acoustic energy , the “sh” and “s” will be detected at closer distances (if at all)
3/6/08
Ling 6 Sound Test ~ Recording Form
Date Distance (ft.)
Ah Oo Ee Mm Sh S
3/5/08 15 ft.
X X
18 ft.
3/7/08 20 ft.
3/8/08 20 ft.
Additional Info:• Phonak
– www.phonak.com– eschooldesk
• www.phonak.com/professional/eschooldesk
• FM support for teachers, SLPs, AuDs, etc.
• Oticon– www.oticonus.com
Cochlear Implants
• What is a cochlear implant?– A medical device for severely to profoundly deaf individuals who
gain little or no benefit from hearing aids and assistive listening devices.
• How is it different from a hearing aid?– Hearing aids amplify sound. To a person with severe to profound
hearing loss, amplification won't provide much hearing because sound is still being delivered through a damaged part of the ear.
– A cochlear implant doesn’t make sounds louder – it bypasses the damaged part of the ear and sends sound directly to the auditory (hearing) nerve to provide a clearer understanding of sound and speech.
• Does a cochlear implant restore normal hearing?– No, an implant will not restore normal hearing-nothing can. A
child using an implant will typically have thresholds in the mild hearing loss range…(remember the spelling test?) Also, it sounds different. They aren’t hearing an acoustic signal, but an electric signal.
Cochlear Implant
Cochlear Implants
•3 Manufacturers
o Cochlear Corporation www.cochlear.com
o Advanced Bionics www.advancedbionics.com
o MedEl www.medel.com
Aren’t hearing aids & cochlear implants
enough?• Not always. • Assistive Listening Devices overcome obstacles such
as:
– Background noise– Distance– Reverberation
• Which are found in all classrooms!
Assistive Listening Devices
• Can be used with hearing aids and cochlear implants• If more than one student with hearing loss in the same
classroom, can “sync” all of the hearing aids/cochlear implants so that they are all on the same frequency.– Same frequency= ONE microphone!!
Assistive Listening Devices• Lots of different types of
systems– FM Systems– Infrared Systems– Hard wired – Wireless– Classroom
• Permanent• Portable
– Personal
• Similar Components:
1. Microphone- worn by the teacher/therapist 2. Speaker/Receiver- for the students - Connected to hearing aid or distributed throughout the classroom
Infrared Wireless System
• Lightspeed• Classroom system
– Speaker that transmits teacher’s voice throughout the classroom
• Wall mounted• Speakers in the ceiling
Phonak Wireless FM System
• Personal system• Must be on a specified frequency• Two parts
– Teacher’s Microphone– Student’s Receiver
• Couples to the bottom of hearing aid/cochlear implant
– Audio shoe (w/ aid)– Receiver
What?!?!?
When in doubt...• Contact your area rep!• Phonak
– www.phonak.com– 1-888-777-7333 (Main)– 1-888-777-7316 (FM)– Deb Edwards
– Soundfield/Classroom amplification– Will benefit from personal amplification
system coupled to hearing aid(s)/cochlear implant.
** NOT FOR ALL KIDS AT THIS AGE**
– Teachers/Staff must be inserviced at the beginning of the school year.
• Daily listening checks of the equipment• Change batteries• Pieces and parts
– Consultation with Educational Audiologist
IEP Considerations
• Elementary School– Teachers/Staff also need to be inserviced annually.– Soundfield or personal amplification system– Classroom/Test taking accommodations
• Extended time• Preferential seating• Pre-tutoring new vocab/concepts
– Important for student to start caring for equipment.• Responsibility of daily listening checks and batteries
fall on the students– Consultation with Educational Audiologist
IEP Considerations• Middle School
– Teacher/Staff/Coach inservices– Daily checks of equipment– Classroom/test taking accommodations– May start seeing the “social” aspect of their hearing
loss• Although may start earlier• Become introverted• In denial of hearing loss or need for
equipment/accommodations– Keep an eye on them!!
– Consultation with Educational Audiologist
IEP Considerations• High School
– Get thinking about after graduation!– Services out there for students with hearing
loss.• Help pay tuition, ALDs, etc
– BVR (Bureau of Vocational Rehabilitation)– Office of Accessibilities
– Tons of scholarships!• Sertoma• Quota International• Alexander Graham Bell Association
– Consultation with Educational Audiologist
What’s Going on in Stark County??
• SPEAK Auditory Oral Preschool– Stark Project for Educating Audition in Kids– For children whose parents have chosen spoken
language as the primary means of communication for their child
– All of our kids wear hearing aids and/or cochlear implants
– Public preschool program– Follow ODE guidelines– Children receive highly specialized instruction in
speech, language and auditory skills– Teacher is certified in Oral-Deaf Education
What’s Going on in Stark County??
• HIT IT– Hearing Impaired Teens, Interacting Together– Middle school and high school students with
hearing loss who live in Stark County (except those attending Canton City)
– Support group– Learn about their hearing loss, and meet other
kids with hearing loss, discuss issues they may be facing in a non-threatening environment.
What’s Going on in Stark County??
• Sound Beginnings– Sponsored by Quota International of Massillon– Provides financial assistance for the initial set
of hearing aids to any child (age 3 and under) who is diagnosed with permanent hearing loss, regardless of income.
– Ensure every child with a hearing loss has appropriate and optimum hearing aid amplification as soon after diagnosis in order to begin early intervention services.