Audiology Services
The goal of
the Audiology Clinic is to maximize the communication abilities of individuals
with hearing loss by providing comprehensive diagnostic services and state of
the art treatments for hearing loss and related disorders. The Audiology Clinic
serves patients of all ages and encourages family involvement throughout the entire
process. Graduate student clinicians in the Department of Communication
Sciences and Disorders conduct the assessment and intervention services. These services
are supervised by state licensed and nationally certified audiologists.
Audiological evaluations
An
audiological evaluation is a series of diagnostic procedures used to determine
the type, degree, and configuration of hearing loss. The goal of this evaluation
is to develop a treatment plan that is unique to the patient’s needs in order
to improve their communication skills. Individuals may be self-referred or
referred by a physician or other professional.
The
following sites are recommended to further educate you about hearing loss and
the procedures for evaluating hearing impairment:
Assistive listening devices
For many individuals, the use of hearing aids
will enhance their communication and listening skills. However, hearing aids
alone cannot be expected to solve all difficulties that result from hearing
loss. Assistive devices can help to make interpersonal and group communication
more manageable in noisy environments, in situations with poor acoustics or
where distance is a factor. Assistive listening devices include any device,
except hearing aids, which help a hearing impaired person communicate more
effectively through direct sound amplification, or visual or vibrotactile
alerts. Assistive devices include an array of technology: television and
telephone aids, alerting or signaling devices, and personal or large area
assistive listening systems. Assistive devices are also known as auxiliary
aids, assistive listening devices or ALDs.
Related
links
Auditory processing disorders
Auditory processing
disorders (APD) can be observed in both children and adults. Simply put, these
are disorders in which the person appears as if they have a peripheral hearing
loss but have normal hearing on the audiogram, or pure tone test. People with
auditory processing disorders may have deficits in processing of auditory
information in a number of ways: they may have difficulty listening when background
noise is present, difficulty with “filling in” missing auditory information,
problems with combining information between the two ears (called dichotic
listening), and issues with the timing of auditory information, just to provide
a few examples. These types of problems may result in the listener struggling
to hear in less than optimal situations, not being able to understand
non-native speakers of their language, and struggling with people who speak
rapidly, among other deficits. Auditory processing disorders can be the result
of a developmental delay, a disorder of the central auditory nervous system
(e.g. related to a head injury or illness), or a “wiring” issue thought to have
a genetic component.
Auditory processing disorders are
assessed by audiologists as part of an interdisciplinary team approach. The
diagnosis of auditory processing disorder is under the scope of practice of the
profession of audiology. It is a low-incidence diagnosis and other types of
causes for the suspected auditory difficulties should be ruled out prior to
implementing an auditory processing evaluation. In children, testing is most
effective at age 7 or older. Prior to testing, peripheral hearing loss should
be ruled out. In addition, children that have been identified as being on the
autism spectrum are not appropriate for this type of testing. Normal cognitive
functioning should be established prior to seeking an auditory processing
assessment.
The auditory processing assessment
is done to determine if an auditory processing disorder is present, and if so,
to determine the parameters of the disorder in order to guide management. Case
history information provided by referral sources, school, and family all
contribute to the assessment. The assessment is designed to “tax” the auditory
system in order to make it work under less than optimal conditions and to
determine the ability of the auditory system to be flexible under these
conditions. The assessment takes about 2 hours and provides insight into the
types of auditory processing deficits present and the impact of these deficits
on academics or the work environment. Recommendations are generated from the
assessment that helps to link the diagnosis to treatment and management. The
management of auditory processing disorders can be categorized in three areas:
modification of the listening environment, often with the use of assistive
listening technology; direct treatment for the disorder; and development of
compensatory strategies and techniques.
Custom hearing protection and swim molds
Custom
hearing protection (earplugs) and swim molds are available through the Northern
Arizona Speech-Language-Hearing Clinic. Both custom hearing protection and swim
molds are custom made to fit the size and shape of an individual’s ears. This
promotes a comfortable and proper fit. Therefore, an earmold impression
appointment is necessary to make impressions that will be sent to the
manufacturer.
Hearing
protection should be worn in environments that expose an individual to loud
sounds to prevent noise-induced hearing loss. Individuals with hearing loss
should also wear hearing protection in noisy environments to protect residual
hearing. Sources of noise exposure include concerts, lawn mowers, leaf blowers,
machinery in the work place, guns, etc. Custom musician earplugs are also
available.
Swim molds
may be used in situations in which one wishes to keep water out of his or her
ears, such as swimming or bathing. Swim molds are often recommended by
physicians for patients who have had tubes placed in the eardrums or have
conditions in which water should be kept out of the ears.
Custom
hearing protection and swim molds are available in a variety of colors. Solid
colors or a multi-colored swirl pattern may be chosen.
For more information on
noise-induced hearing loss, please visit
Hearing aid sales and service
The Northern Arizona
University Speech Language Hearing Clinic offers entry level and high-end
digital hearing aid technology in a variety of styles from many different
manufacturers including Phonak, Unitron, GN Resound and more. We prescribe and
fit hearing aids to persons of all ages. Patients and their families will be
provided extensive counseling on the care and use of their new hearing aids to
ensure maximum benefit. Follow up hearing aid checks are required and help to
verify an appropriate fitting and are essential to the success of the new
hearing aid user.
Repair services for all makes of hearing aids are provided, even for those
hearing aids we did not fit.
Free hearing aid consultations are also available for anyone who has had their
hearing evaluated elsewhere, as long as it has been within the past 6 months.
The
following sites are recommended to further educate you about hearing aids