Auditory Training
Children fit with hearing aid amplification for the first time, are exposed to new and unfamiliar sounds. Often these children do not know or understand how to respond to the sounds or how to interpret sound effectively. Auditory training provides an introduction and expansion of auditory information, making the hearing impaired child more auditorily aware of their environment. Training helps to provide a recognition of sound for communication, or interaction and safety. Sound is introduced using a variety of techniques established according to the child’s age and hearing level.
Focus is placed upon auditory awareness to sound, identification of sound with objects, discrimination of sounds between and amongst each other, discrimination of various acoustic parameters of speech and sounds (i.e.: prosodic features of stress, intonation/inflection, rhythm), localization of sound sources, and comprehension of a sound source.
Adult Aural Rehabilitation Programs
Speechreading Classes
These classes focus on the use of visual information to enhance hearing. Specific techniques are taught to recognize sounds and anticipate language. The classes are designed to assist the hearing impaired individual communicate more effectively.
Aural Rehabilitation Seminars
Informational seminars are offered periodically and as requested to help family members and friends understand hearing loss. Seminars are also provided to hearing aid users to provide information for understanding their hearing loss.
Group FM Sound Field System: These systems are designed for general use in the classroom so all students benefit from an improved acoustic environment. These units are appropriate to most classrooms in general education, especially in the young, elementary school grades which tend to be noisier. They are also appropriate for various special education population classrooms (i.e.; Autistic, Communication Handicapped; Preschool Handicapped) to enhance attending and focusing to sound. The benefits include but are not limited to:
- Improved signal-to-noise ratios in the classroom
- Improved attending and focusing ability for the students
- Improved ability of the teacher to get the attention of the classroom
- Reduced teacher vocal fatigue and voice problems
- Improvement in overall listening abilities
Educational consultations are performed both in office and in the school setting. Formal presentations are provided for IEP meetings and staffing to discuss, define and explain audioliogic test findings and implications with recommendations provided as requested for each student Individual staff meetings are provided as requested.
In-Service and Workshop Presentations
In-Service and Workshop presentations are offered on a variety of topics regarding the auditory systems performance as it relates to the academic function and achievement of the student. Ilasic to advanced context workshops are tailored to the school’s requirements and interests. We participate in a variety of in-service and continuing education seminars for teachers and administrators as well as parent-teacher organizations and parent support organizations as requested. A listing of previously presented topics are available for review.
FM Auditory Trainer Systems
Personal and Group FM Amplification systems are available for students experiencing auditory disorders. Individual FM Auditory Trainer evaluations are performed as requested to determine appropriate equipment for each student Prescription, implementation, maintenance, and in-service programs are provided to ensure a comprehensive program of use and understanding of the systems.
Personal FM Auditory Trainer Systems
These systems are designed to be used by individual students according to their personal audiologic needs. Currently, these systems are being recommended by many audiologists for a variety of reasons. To be successful with any personal FM Auditory Trainer System, appropriate prescription, implementation, in-servicing, and monitoring must be an integral part of the student’s program. The units vary in their amplification abilities, FM sending and reception abilities, as well as their practical set up. We offer a full range of diagnostic testing as well as individual program specifications required to define appropriate use of FM systems. The following populations are often referred for Personal systems.
- Auditorily Handicapped - Children with peripheral hearing impairments with or without hearing aids.
- Central Auditory Processing Deficits (CAPD) or Auditory Perceptual Deficits
- Attention Deficit Disorder - This fitting is significantly affected by the child’s activity level.
- Fluctuating hearing status due to recurrent middle ear fluid.
