The ear is the key that unlocks the world to the brain. Even before we were born, we responded to sound. Hearing is access to most everything you encounter in your life, especially in the early years.
Educational Audiologist Purpose:
Hearing Evaluation Services of Buffalo has launched a new program in conjunction with the Educational Audiology Association to fulfill the mission of becoming a resource and advocate for providing hearing health services in educational settings.
The Educational Audiologist will focus on supporting students with hearing difficulties in an educational setting byEducat evaluating the student’s hearing, listening, and auditory processing deficits that can affect their academic success, communication abilities and psychosocial well-being.
Did you know…
- 1/1000 children has severe or profound bilateral (both ears) sensorineural hearing impairment
- 2/1000 school-age children have permanent unilateral (one ear) hearing impairment
- 4/1000 school-age children have significant speech/language delays associated with history of recurrent otitis media and conductive hearing impairment
- 7/1000 children have mild or moderate bilateral sensorineural hearing impairment
- 12/1000 or 1.4% of school age population have significant hearing impairment relative to verbal communication, social, and emotional growth, and academic achievement.
Impact Hearing Impairments have on children in school:
A student with hearing impairment or listening problems often performs well below their academic potential. The poor classroom acoustics restrict access to clear speech of peers and teachers within their listening environment. Management of all systems which impact communication and learning in the classroom is necessary to ensure each child has the opportunity for an appropriate education. Educational Audiologists are key team member in accomplishing this goal in the classroom.
What an Educational Audiologist from Hearing Evaluation Services of Buffalo can offer your District:
- Interprets audiological assessment results to school personnel and parents.
- Analyzes classroom acoustics and noise levels to make recommendations for equal access to auditory information presented in the listening environment.
- Makes recommendations regarding the use of hearing assistance technology (HAT): hearing aid(s), cochlear implant(s), group/ classroom amplification, and personal FM systems (assistive listening devices).
- Selects, fits, dispenses, & monitors HAT.
- Ensures the proper fit and functioning of HAT: hearing aids, cochlear implants, group/classroom amplification, and personal FM systems.
- Counsels and guides students, parents, and teachers regarding hearing loss and resulting needs.
- Provides the community with information to ensure that all infants, toddlers, and youth with impaired hearing are promptly identified, evaluated, and provided with appropriate intervention services.
- Establishes and coordinates appropriate referrals with outside agencies/practices for further audiological, communication, educational, and or psychosocial medical evaluations.
- Serves as a member of the educational team in the evaluation, planning, and placement process and makes recommendations regarding placement, related service needs, and modifications to classroom environments for students with hearing impairments or other auditory disorders.
- Provides in-service training on hearing, hearing impairment, auditory disorders, amplification devices, and their implication to school personnel, students, and parents.
- Provides educational programs for educational staff and the community.
16 Reasons Why Your School Needs an Educational Audiologist
- Perform comprehensive, educationally relevant hearing evaluations and make recommendations to enhance communication access and learning.
- Provide training about hearing, hearing loss and
other auditory disorders for school personnel, students and parents to facilitate a better understanding of the impact of auditory impairments on language, learning, literacy and social development. - Evaluate and make recommendations for the use of hearing aids, cochlear implants, Bahas (AKA Bone Anchored Solutions, Auditory Osseointegrated Device), and personal, classroom and other hearing assistive technology.
- Ensure the proper fit and functioning of hearing aids, cochlear implants, Bahas and hearing assistive technology used to access auditory information.
- Explain audiological assessment results to school personnel.
- Collaborate with school, parents, teachers, support personnel, and relevant community agencies and professionals to ensure delivery of appropriate services.
- Measure classroom noise, evaluate acoustics and make recommendations for improving the classroom listening environment.
- Assist in program placement decisions and make specific recommendations to address listening and communication needs.
- Make appropriate medical, educational, and community referrals.
- Coordinate hearing screening programs for preschool and school-aged students ensuring professional standards are followed and screening personnel are appropriately trained.
- Facilitate programs for speechreading, listening, auditory training, communication strategies, and use and care of amplification devices, including hearing aids, cochlear implants, and hearing assistive technology.
- Manage the use and calibration of audiometric equipment.
- Administer relevant assessments to measure central auditory processing function and make appropriate educational recommendations.
- Make appropriate recommendations for daily living assistive technology (radio, television, telephone, messaging, alerting, and convenience) for students with hearing and listening problems.
- Collaborate with students, teachers, and parents to facilitate a greater understanding of the impact of noise exposure and hearing loss prevention.
- Provide community leadership and collaborate with community agencies to provide awareness of hearing and hearing loss and to assure that all children and youth with hearing loss are promptly identified, evaluated, and provided with resources and appropriate intervention services.
Meet our Educational Audiologist
Dr. Pleban joined Hearing Evaluation Services in February 2019. Originally from Baldwinsville, which is outside of Syracuse, NY. Dr. Pleban received her B.S. in Communicative Disorders and Sciences from SUNY Geneseo in 2003 and her Doctorate in Audiology from the University at Buffalo in 2007. She specializes in working with adult and pediatric populations and she has extensive expertise in audiometric assessments, hearing aid fittings, and aural rehabilitation.
Dr. Pleban focuses on patient counseling, education and quality of life improvements, which she finds to be the most rewarding experiences as an Audiologist. She takes pride in patient outcomes with careful selection of hearing aid technologies and assistive listening devices to meet the unique listening needs of each individual. Dr. Pleban has the pleasure of working with residents within their Senior Living Facilities. She assists residents within the natural environment with all the hearing care needs.
Additionally, Dr. Pleban is the Board President for the not-for-profit after-school program, Just for Kids, and is a Fellow of the American Academy of Audiology.