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Survey of hearing aid fitting practices for children with multiple impairments
A M Tharpe1, M S Fino-Szumski, F H Bess
1Vanderbilt Bill Wilkerson Center for Otolaryngology and Communication Sciences, Nashville, TN 37212, USA. tharpeam@ctrvax.vanderbilt.edu
Insights
Pediatric audiologists often fit hearing aids for children with multiple impairments similarly to those with only hearing loss. Practices vary by work setting, highlighting a need for further research in pediatric audiology for special needs populations.
Area of Science:
- Audiology
- Pediatric audiology
- Special education
Background:
- Fitting amplification for children with multiple impairments presents unique challenges for audiologists.
- Limited research exists in audiological literature regarding best practices for this population.
Purpose of the Study:
- To survey current hearing aid fitting practices for children with multiple impairments in the United States.
- To document audiologists' educational preparation and methods for hearing aid selection, fitting, and verification.
Main Methods:
- A survey was distributed to audiologists who regularly serve children.
- Questions focused on educational background and specific practices for children with hearing loss and additional impairments (vision, intellectual disability, physical, autism spectrum disorders).
Main Results:
- Findings indicate that children with multiple impairments are often fitted with amplification similarly to children with hearing loss only.
- Significant variations in hearing aid selection, fitting, and verification practices were observed across different work settings.
Conclusions:
- Current practices suggest a "one-size-fits-all" approach for hearing aid fitting in children with multiple impairments.
- Further research is needed to develop tailored audiological interventions and guidelines for this complex pediatric population.
Abstract:
The fitting of amplification on young children with multiple impairments in addition to hearing loss is a challenge faced regularly by audiologists. However, very little has been published on this topic in the audiological literature. The purpose of this survey was to document hearing aid fitting practices for this population within the United States. Specifically, audiologists who regularly serve children were asked to complete a series of questions on their educational preparation and their hearing aid selection, fitting, and verification practices for children with multiple impairments. For purposes of this survey, multiple impairments included vision impairment, mental retardation, physical impairment, and autism spectrum disorders. Findings from this survey suggest that children with special needs in addition to hearing loss are typically fit in the same way and with the same type of amplification as those with hearing loss only. In addition, differences were noted in hearing aid selection, fitting, and verification practices across work settings. Future directions and research needs are suggested.
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