Client Profile: A school aged student that utilizes assisted listening devices to improve his/her ability to hear all auditory information provided in a variety of contexts. Specifically beneficial for a student that is working on learning the importance of routine device use.
Goal: Student will use and care for his/her assisted hearing device (i.e., hearing aid, cochlear implant) by independently completing daily routine checks to ensure it is working properly in 4/5 opportunities, across 5 consecutive sessions as measured by SLP data collection.
This interactive book can be used to teach a student recently fitted with hearing aids when they should wear them to maximize listening. The book reviews various scenarios and settings that the student should wear their listening devices. Increase your student's understanding of the benefits of his/her new hearing aids to ensure they are worn regularly. This social story will be used to support and facillitate the child's learning of daily routines with assisted hearing devices. Check for your students understanding by having them answer yes/no questions by adding an icon for the presented scenario. Provide the child's family with a copy of the story to ensure carry over and familiarize them with when hearing aids need to be worn to maximize communication and listening.
Materials:
laminating pouches
velcro
binder rings
Cueing: Verbal and visual cueing can be provided to support the student in answering yes/no questions regarding situations described in the story.
Data Tracking: Data will be quantitative over consecutive sessions utilizing a +/- system for correct responses to yes/no questions for scenarios when hearing aids should be worn.
EBP: According to ASHA, the child with a hearing impairment and their family are significant parts of the care team when hearing aids are newly introduced as part of an aural rehabilitation plan. It is important that children where assistive listening devices routinely to promote improved hearing abilitites and reduce the amount of information that can be missed resulting from hearing impairment (Walker et al., 2015). Walker et al., (2015) concluded in a study that children that wear listening devices regularly will have less of a risk for deficits in vocabulary and grammar usage. Children wearing assisted listening devices will depend on family to help maintain devices and encourage regular use. Speech language pathologists will play an integral part in educating the family and child about device management and the importance of routine use (ASHA).
References
American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. (n.d.). Hearing aids for children. American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. Retrieved December 18, 2022, from https://www.asha.org/practice-portal/professional-issues/hearing-aids-for-children/#collapse_1
Walker, E. A., Holte, L., McCreery, R. W., Spratford, M., Page, T., & Moeller, M. P. (2015). The influence of hearing aid use on outcomes of children with mild hearing loss. Journal of Speech, Language, and Hearing Research, 58(5), 1611–1625. https://doi.org/10.1044/2015_jslhr-h-15-0043