Hearing Related Services provide specialized support for students with hearing loss to ensure full access to education. Educational Audiologists assess the impact of hearing loss on learning and collaborate with school teams to address individual student needs. Teachers of the deaf and hard of hearing bring expertise in deaf language acquisition, helping students engage with the general curriculum effectively. Itinerant teachers offer both direct instruction and consultative services to support students across various educational settings.
What does an Educational Audiologist do?
- Complete audiological evaluations to determine range, nature and degree of hearing loss and/or provide interpretation of outside test results
- Evaluate the student’s functional listening abilities in the classroom environment and determine any deficits in auditory access
- Determine the need for HAT and provide selection, fitting and monitoring of HAT
- Make recommendations regarding classroom acoustics to maximize the child’s auditory learning
- Provide education and support to teachers and staff members regarding communication needs of the child; effects of hearing loss on academics and literacy; personal amplification, HAT and appropriate use of technology; modifications and educational planning/accommodations
- Provide comprehensive on-site device checks for hearing aids, cochlear implants and HAT
- Collaborate with outside agencies/managing audiologists
- Serve as a member of the evaluation and educational planning teams for ETRs and IEPs
- Provide information regarding eligibility, IDEA and Section 504
- Consult on development of self-advocacy skills and listening skills
- Provide counseling and guidance to children, parents and teachers regarding the impact of hearing loss in the school setting
- Consult on newly identified and children with implants
What does a teacher of the deaf and hard of hearing do?
- Make key professionals aware of the student’s degree of hearing loss and its implication and effect on his/her language, speech and general academic ability
- Instruct students using oral/auditory communication or total communication
- Participate in collaborative consultation with teams of professionals who serve students with hearing impairments
- Share knowledge about hearing aids, HAT (i.e. classroom systems for personal use, captioning, video phones, adaptive equipment, etc.) and language deficits
- Recommend classroom accommodations that affect students with hearing impairments
- Provide assistance in curricular or academic areas where a student is struggling using strategies proven to assist students with hearing impairments
- Assist in the transition and self-advocacy training for students
- Maximize auditory skills by evaluating the student’s current level of functioning and the accessibility to the environment
- Conduct workshops/in-services for staff on effective strategies for students with hearing impairments
- Administer educational and language assessments when needed
- Serve deaf students with other special needs (i.e., intellectual disability, autism, deaf-blindness)
- Work with students with cochlear implants and educate school teams
- Continually assess and evaluate student’s progress and, through diagnostic intervention, modify the program when needed
Did you know?
Hearing and auditory function have a significant impact on the development and use of language and communication which can affect academic progress and outcomes for children. Educational Audiologists are professionals that support schools and students in the following areas: Identification of Hearing Loss, Assessments, Habilitation and Educational Management, Hearing Loss Prevention and Counseling.
We make your life easier by purchasing a variety of HAT equipment and renting it to school districts. We purchase HAT in a large volume and, therefore, secure better prices than that of an individual school district. We maintain, repair (and provide back-ups when repair is needed), restock and provide the required summer servicing to each piece of equipment. Let our experts help you to provide your HAT equipment in a cost-effective manner.
Educational Audiology services are required by IDEA for a child with a hearing disability. Only an Educational Audiologist can determine the need for Hearing Assistive Technology (HAT) and provide HAT recommendations and fittings.
Contact
Jody Bailey
513.674.4402
jody.bailey@hcesc.org