Hearing aid fitting and verification zone
The digital hearing aids that are on the NHS contract currently have many more features than the aids that were initially on the contract in the early days of MCHAS. In the absence of guidance and limited research evidence to indicate when children may benefit from these advanced features eg directional microphone, adaptive microphone, it is the responsibility of the paediatric audiologist to keep abreast of new technology so that an informed decision can be made as to when a child may benefit from such features or programmes.
Protocols
- 'Guidance on the use of REM to verify DSP hearing aid fittings'. For the draft BSA REM protocol see: British Society of Audiology
- 'Guidelines for the early assessment and management of babies referrred from the newborn hearing screening programme' Ed. John Stevens, see: Newborn Hearing Screening
Courses
- Effective Amplification for Infants and Children A masters level short course from the University of Manchester covering all aspects of paediatric habilitation. This is an eLearning course delivered entirely on line. It is accredited by BAA and the next starting date is September '08. For further information contact david.parry@manchester.ac.uk
- DSP Hearing Aids: Features and fine tuning
For further information, see: GN ReSound website
Other courses on a range of topics are also available - NHSP courses
For further information, see: NHSP Training and Consultancy website
Various day courses on Assessment, Habilitation, Informed Choice, Common Monitoring Protocol - BAA Higher training scheme: Paediatric Habilitation Module
For further information, view: British Academy of Audiology Paediatric Habilitation Module - course outline (word 839kb)
Resources
- Goodness of fit calculator (Excel 24 KB)
Can be used for checking how closely targets have been matched
- Goodness of fit paper (Word 54 KB)
Explanation of the GoF calculator - Real Ear measurement DVD
For a copy contact: graham.e.hamilton@manchester.ac.uk
Clear step-by-step instructions on performing real ear measures by Amy McLauchlan - Videos and DVDs
For further information, see: Phonak resources website
Series of informative videos on hearing assessment, hearing aid fitting and verification.
A new video 'Hearing care for infants: strategies for a sound beginning' is now available.
iLearn VIP lectures
These lectures are pre-recorded and can be listened to at any time. The Phonak VIP series offers lectures on many different topics, just some of the relevant lectures are listed:
- Assessment considerations for ftting HA's to infants and young children
Marlene Baggato, Au. D. - The DSL method for pediatric and adult hearing instrument fitting (version 5)
Dr Susan Scollie - WDRC with severe to profound loss
Dr Josephine Marriage
Relevant articles
PDFs available to download:
- Directional hearing aids (PDF 6.94 MB))
Todd Ricketts, Trends in Amplification, 2001 - E2e wireless: Evidence of benefit for bilateral fittings (PDF 76 KB)
Siemens - The DSL method for pediatric and adult hearing instrument fitting: version 5 (PDF)
Phonak Focus 37 - Integrating the RECD into the hearing instrument fitting process (PDF)
Kevin Munro, 2004 Phonak Focus 33 - Advantages of an Adaptive Multi-Microphone System (PDF)
Volker Kühnel and Paul C Checkley, 2000 Phonak Focus 26 - Fitting a wide dynamic range of speech into a narrow dynamic range of speech (PDF)
H Dillon - An amplification protocol for infants (PDF)
Kathryn Beauchaine - Severe-to-profound hearing loss (PDF)
S Launer and V Kuhnel - Electroacoustic verification measures (PDF)
S Scollie and R Seewald - The importance of high-frequency amplification (PDF)
P Stelmachowicz
Informed choice
These materials define and discuss the underlying principles of informed choice. They relate to the decisions that parents have to make regarding the management of their child. They are in booklet form for families and professionals and can be downloaded from the Early Support website.
Hearing Aids available on the NHS contract
Contact Sophie Cros for information as to which hearing aids are currently on the NHS contract.
If you have any concerns or experienced any difficulties fitting/programming /daily use of the NHS contract aids please contact:
Sophie Cros Procurement Project Buyer (Audiology) at the NHS Supply Chain
sophie.cros@supplychain.nhs.uk
She can then understand the nature and extent of a concern and approach the manufacturer to work towards a solution.
Resources
The Hearing Aid manufacturers offer many useful extras for professionals and families eg written information; care kits; eLearning; posters.
- Oticon
For professionals: Oticon website
For professionals: Amigo website
For parents: OtiKids website
Products and useful information for parents - Phonak
For professionals: Phonak; professional community website
Access to recorded lectures, research papers, conference proceedings
For parents: Phonak: children website
Includes care kits, information brochures, clips, videos, story book - Siemens
For further details, see: Siemens website
Includes literature library, information booklets, story book for children
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