The Importance of Hearing Screening in Our Youngest and Most Senior Clients

In recognition of World Hearing Day today, I am sharing guidelines and insights—from nearly four decades as an audiologist—on providing hearing screening for clients and patients at critical junctures. Communication sciences and disorders professionals continue to learn more about the effects of hearing loss on speech, language development, and cognition. Obviously, audiologists conduct hearing screenings, but they often aren’t on treatment teams in many of these situations. Speech-language pathologists are on the front lines of communication services in rehabilitation, skilled nursing, home health agencies, and schools and can also conduct hearing screenings (see the ASHA Practice Portal guidance on hearing screening for adults and screening for children). Children SLPs might receive referrals from pediatricians for children delayed in language acquisition.  Even if a child passed their newborn hearing test, they might have experienced a progressive hearing loss in childhood.  As part of their evaluation of the language delay, SLPs can asses hearing loss and do any of the following: Collaborate with an audiologist to develop a screening protocol. Refer children who don’t pass for audiologic services. Refer children difficult to test to an audiologist. Communicate results to families, including recommendations for timely follow-up. Share screening results with appropriate programs, agencies, and school representatives. Provide counseling and education for families,...
Source: American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) Press Releases - Category: Speech-Language Pathology Authors: Tags: Audiology Health Care Private Practice Slider Speech-Language Pathology Hearing Assistive Technology hearing loss Source Type: blogs