Role of Audiologists
Audiologists determine whether a child has a hearing loss using a diagnostic audiologic evaluation. Babies that do not pass their newborn hearing screening should have this evaluation no later than 3 months of age. Habilitation, including fitting amplification, and initiation of Early Intervention services should occur no later than 6 months of age. They also do the following:
- Completes initial diagnostic audiologic evaluation using a battery of physiological testing procedures (JCIH 2007).
- Reports the results of the diagnostic audiologic hearing evaluation to the child's PCP, including information that an infant was not successfully tested after being referred for testing.
- Reports to the Department of Health, using the Diagnostic Evaluation Reporting Form, the names of all children who received a diagnostic evaluation and those who were not successfully tested after being referred for a diagnostic evaluation.
- Makes a referral to Early Intervention for children diagnosed with permanent hearing loss and reports the date of referral to the Department of Health.
- Provides parents information about hearing and hearing loss, and communication and education options for children who are deaf or hard of hearing.
- Fits children with amplification including hearing aids or other assistive technology; refer for consideration of cochlear implant candidacy when appropriate.
Audiologists in Kansas
View List of Audiologists in Kansas (PDF).