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10/27/2019  |   8:00 AM - 10:00 AM   |  Ventana Ballroom B

Hearing Aid Verification and Validation- One Model

Humanitarian audiologists may find themselves in situations where time and availability of resources are often less than ideal; however, this should not deter from appropriately fit hearing aids that ensure optimization of speech with safe and comfortable listening levels. This poster will provide one model for the fitting of hearing aids that includes advance preparation combined with on-site fitting and documentation. This poster will provide sample patient data that includes diagnostic results combined with aided verification and validation data. Many humanitarian groups partner either with in- country professionals providing audiological services year round or have trained technicians to do the same. In this paradigm, diagnostic evaluations maybe completed in advance of a hearing aid dispensing trip. This allows for selection and “pre” programming of hearing aids. If diagnostic evaluations are taking place during the time of your hearing aid fitting, consider using “sample” audiograms to simulate actual patients. Simulated real ear measures are strongly correlated to on- ear measures and can be an alternative. If the luxury of having a verification system with you is possible, on-site real time programming with verification can take place immediately following your diagnostic testing. As time may be limited, options for either simulated measures or on ear measures can be considered. With either, you have now provided an accurate and safe hearing aid fitting. This can be used in combination with validation measures which may include speech awareness thresholds for ling phonemes, speech reception thresholds and word recognition scores. It is believed that this model can be replicated by most humanitarian audiologists anywhere and maintains as closely as possible the standards audiologists follow in their primary worksites. While this model may require you modify your work practice, it still enables you to provide optimal care with confidence and without much compromise.

• This model demonstrates how to incorporate pre travel hearing aid programming with verification to ensure your highest quality hearing aid fittings
• Audiologists can make use of a combination of approaches, both in advance of a trip as well as during a trip that helps to maintain the highest standards of patient care.

Presentation:
18369_12307AnitaStein-Meyers.pdf

Handouts:
No handouts have been uploaded.

Anita Stein-Meyers (POC,Primary Presenter,Co-Presenter), Center for Hearing and Communication, anita@chchearing.org;
Anita Stein-Meyers is an audiologist who is the assistant director of audiology services within a private non profit rehabilitation facility in New York City. She provides pediatric audiology services that include diagnostic evaluations, hearing aid evaluations and fittings, parent training and counseling and participates in a multi-disciplinary service provision model. She is a volunteer for Mayflower Medical Outreach that provides educational, medical and audiology services in rural Nicaragua. She has colloborated in the development of an early hearing loss detection and intervention program in rural communities. She also serves as a team member of the International Humanitarian Hearing Aid Purchasing Program.

ASHA DISCLOSURE: Financial - No relevant financial relationship exists. Nonfinancial - No relevant nonfinancial relationship exists.

AAA DISCLOSURE: Financial - No relevant financial relationship exists.

Debra Fried (Co-Presenter), Mayflower Medical Outreach, DebraFriedMMO@aol.com;
Debra is a clinical audiologist and Coordinator of Audiology for the ambulatory care clinics at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York. She provides diagnostic audiological, hearing aid and cochlear implant services. She manages the newborn hearing screening program for the hospital which has over 6,000 annual births. Debra volunteers her time as Director of Audiology for Mayflower Medical Outreach, a U.S. based non-governmental organization providing hearing care services in Nicaragua. She works collaboratively to develop hearing health care programs while in Nicaragua as well as remotely. She is also a member of the International Humanitarian Hearing Aid Purchasing Program HHAPP. Debra is the 2019 recipient of the American Academy of Audiology Humanitarian Audiology Award.

ASHA DISCLOSURE: Financial - No relevant financial relationship exists. Nonfinancial - No relevant nonfinancial relationship exists.

AAA DISCLOSURE: Financial -