Each graduate student will meet their hearing screening competency in their first year of graduate school by participating in hearing screenings as assigned by the Clinic Director.
Check-In:
Upon arrival at the school, check in at the front office and follow the instructions provided by the site coordinator. They will guide you to the designated room(s) for the hearing screenings.
Room Setup:
If in one large room with multiple tables: Arrange the tables or desks as far apart as possible to minimize distractions and noise. Mark each table with the table tents provided (e.g., purple circle, green triangle).
Plug in your audiometer and ensure access to a power outlet. Use an extension cord if necessary.
If extension cords cross a pathway, secure cord to floor with gaffer’s tape (in hearing screening kit) to prevent tripping.
If assigned to separate rooms (unusual), tape the table tents provided to your door so that students can easily be directed to you (e.g., purple circle, green triangle).
Audiometer Set Up (Maico MA 25)
Before using the device, plug in the headphones, ensuring the red plug is inserted and fully seated into the red jack, and the blue plug is inserted and fully seated into the blue jack. Additionally check proper connection of the power cord (The MA 25 has the option to be operated by batteries). The audiometer will not operate if the power cord or headphones are not properly connected.
Power on the device by pressing the Tone Switch button.
Select the warble tone using the F4 button for Warble On
Select the right ear using the F1 button or select the left ear using the F2 button.
Select the hearing level (dB) with the left Hearing Level dB dial
Select the test frequency (Hz) with the right Frequency Hz dial
Press the Tone Switch to present the tone.
For additional information or instructions on the MA 25, please refer to the user manual
GSI 17 Instruction video (older audiometer)
Listening Check (conducted prior to students arrival):
After setting up your audiometer, perform a listening check using a 20 dB tone. Ensure you can hear the tone at all frequencies (1000 Hz, 2000 Hz, 4000 Hz). If 20 dB HL is audible at all frequencies, perform your hearing screenings at this level and indicate this Passing Level by circling 20 dB HL on your report forms.
If there are fans or other noisy devices, unplug them to lower the room’s noise level.
If 20 dB is not audible due to ambient noise, increase hearing level to 25 dB HL for your screenings. Note this adjustment to the Passing Level by circling 25 dB HL on your report forms.
If there is intermittent noise (such as a heater turning on and off, or recess taking place outside) it is acceptable to adjust to 25 dB HL during screenings. Make note of the Passing Level used on the report forms by circling either 20 dB HL or 25 dB HL.
After performing your listening check, you are ready to screen students. Ensure that you have writing utensils available and clarify form sorting procedures if necessary.
Welcoming Students:
Students will be brought to the screening room in small groups and directed to your table. Use the table tents to guide them (e.g., “Go to the purple circle table”).
Greet the student with a smile, take their form, and ask for their name. Confirm their name matches the name on their form.
Ask them if they have had a hearing screening before and let them know they will do great.
Pre-Screening Preparation:
If a student is wearing glasses or a hat have them remove the item(s) prior to fitting the headphones. Other items (such as earrings, headbands, etc.) might need to be removed if causing discomfort or improper fit when headphones are worn. You may also need to have the student tuck their hair behind their ears.
Perform a visual inspection of the student’s ears to identify any obvious obstructions or abnormalities, such as wax buildup or redness. If any issues are observed, follow your site’s protocol for addressing them.
Seat the student facing away from the tester and the audiometer. Ensure they cannot see the tester pressing the tone button.
Explain the process in a whisper to avoid disrupting others:
“You are going to be a sound detective today. You’ll listen for a funny, UFO sound that goes ‘woo.’ When you hear it, raise your hand. I will play you a practice sound, so you know what to listen for. Raise your hand only when you hear the sound and lower your hand when the sound stops. Ready?”
Look for confirmation the student understands the directions and is ready to begin. You can ask, “What do you do when you hear a sound?” to clarify understanding.
Place the headphones directly over the child's ears, with the red headphone on the right ear and the blue headphone on the left ear. Adjust the headband so the headphones are centered over the ear canal.
Let the student know you will play them “practice sound” so they know what to listen for and tell them to raise their hand when they hear it.
Present a suprathreshold tone in the right ear (40 dB HL at 1000 Hz) to familiarize the student with the task and demonstrate the sound.
Ensure the student understands how to respond when they hear a tone (e.g., raising their hand or another agreed-upon response). Reinstruct if needed.
If the student demonstrates they understand, let them know it is time to be a sound detective and that the next tones will quieter. Remind them to raise their hand when they hear the tones, even if they are very quiet.
IMPORTANT: Note the times you START and STOP seeing students for logging Calipso hours. Arrival time, set up time, break down time, and departure time are NOT to be counted in Calipso.
Conducting the Screening
Ensure the student cannot see you as you press the TONE button
Start with the right ear at 1000 Hz, presenting tones at 20 dB (or 25 dB if adjusted).
Play each tone for 1-3 seconds, up to four times, if necessary, until the student responds.
If the student indicates they hear the tone, circle P to indicate PASS at that frequency. If they do not indicate they hear the tone, circle RS to indicate RESCREEN at that frequency.
Continue testing 2000 Hz and 4000 Hz in the right ear, circling P for PASS when the student indicates they hear the tone and RS for RESCREEN when they do not indicate they hear the tone.
Repeat the screening process detailed above for the left ear. Circling P for PASS and RS for RESCREEN until the results for each frequency have been circled.
If the student indicates that they hear all the tones in each ear, check the “Passed Hearing Screening: hearing within normal limits” option on the report form at the completion of the screening.
If a student fails to hear a tone at any frequency, check the “Rescreen reinstruct and rescreen on-site” option on the report form at the completion of the screening. See Section 9. Rescreening and Referrals for directions
Reinstruction:
If a student raises their hand incorrectly or doesn’t respond:
Reinstruct them: “Remember, only raise your hand when you are sure you hear the sound.”
Emphasize that part of being a “sound detective” is waiting until they’re certain they hear the tone.
Rescreening and Referrals:
If a student fails to hear a tone at any frequency they need to be reinstructed and rescreened on-site.
After finishing your initial screening, direct the student to another clinician (with their record form) for an immediate rescreening. Use table tents to guide them to the next clinician (e.g., “Go to the purple circle table”).
Rescreen procedure: Repeat the screening procedure detailed above. Conduct the Screening for all frequencies (1000 Hz, 2000 Hz, 4000 Hz) in both the right and left ear using the dB HL level marked on their initial screening.
If a student fails to hear a tone at any frequency, circle R for refer, and continue to screen the remaining frequencies in each ear.
If any frequency is marked R for REFER check the “Referred hearing screening; follow-up with Pediatrician” option on the report form at the completion of the rescreening.
If the student indicates that they hear all the tones in each ear, check the “Passed Hearing Screening: hearing within normal limits” option on the report form at the completion of the rescreening.
Using an immediate rescreening with a different audiometer and different clinician help reduce false referrals.
Finalizing Form and Screening Completion:
When the screening is complete, double-check that all bolded information is circled/checked on the student’s report form.
Add information to the “Comments” section as needed
Examples: “student was distracted”, “student needed re-instruction due to frequent hand raising”, “passing level changed to 25 dB HL due to fan in room”, etc.
Thank the student for participating. Remind them to take any items they removed (glasses, hats, etc.).
Wipe headphones with alcohol wipes between groups of students (by class/grade) or as needed.
Form Sorting:
Follow the site’s protocol for organizing forms (e.g., by pass/refer, by class, etc.)
Clean-up and Departure
After all hearing screenings are complete, pack up your audiometer.
Return your audiometer, headphones, and power cord to your audiometer bag.
Ensure all report forms are complete, sorted, and turned in as requested by the site.
Return all supplies and table tents to the hearing screening kit (7 total table tents).
Return room to its original set up (plug-in unplugged items, return furniture to its original location, tidy as needed).
Thank your site supervisor and ask if there is anything else they need.
Most sites will request that you check out with the office prior to departure.
Extension Cords: Always pack an extension cord in your kit to ensure flexibility in room setup.
Table Tents: Use table tents with shapes or colors to efficiently guide students to the correct clinician.
Whisper Instructions: Whisper directions to model the quiet tone students should use if they have questions and to keep the noise level to a minimum in the room.
Headphone Comfort: If a student indicates the headphones are tight or uncomfortable, reassure: “This will go quickly. Let’s listen to the sound and raise your hand when you hear it.”
Headphone Placement: Ensure the red headphone is on the student’s right ear. (You can use a post-it on the back of the chair as a reminder if needed).
Note the time your first and last students are screened to track hours for Calipso.