Preparing the Parents
In most cases the parents will decide whether the child wears the hearing aid – we need to get this bit right!
Difference between Adults and Children
What makes them different and how does that apply to the child, family and ultimately their hearing aids?
Introduction to Prescription Formulae
A brief history of how the NAL and DSL teams derive their formulae, and discussions around proprietary fitting rules.
Introduction to RECD / REAR Theory
The prescriptive approach to paediatric hearing aid provision will be considered, including the selection of appropriate parameters in the prescriptive rule and fitting software, and the individualisation of the approach through the use of measures such as the Real Ear to Coupler Difference (RECD).
Real-World RECD
Tips and troubleshooting RECD in the clinic.
Strategies for Testing
How to get the most from a testing session to ensure the best possible hearing aid set-up.
Hearing Aid Provision with Limited Threshold Information
This talk will consider the practical considerations when there may be limited or incomplete threshold information to prescribe the amplification. In particular this will cover the availability and uncertainty of Auditory Brainstem Response and Behavioural Audiometry thresholds, and guidance on how they should be employed and documented in the clinical record.
Evaluation of Hearing Aids using Speech Testing
Things to do with the child and their family once they’re wearing their hearing aids, in addition to asking them ‘How does that sound?’
Automatic Verification of Paediatric Fittings with TargetMatch
Probe microphone measurements remain the ‘gold-stand’ for the electro-acoustic verification of hearing instrument fittings. The process, however, is often considered inefficient as the clinician must ‘juggle’ with both verification and fitting software, in addition to an often uncooperative test subject, to complete the process. This presentation will discuss TargetMatch which is an automated alternative to the above developed by Phonak and Otometrics (now Natus) as an evidence based alternative to the above which results in both more accurate matching to target and greater test-retest reliability.
Outcome Measures / Questionnaires
The range of outcome measures used to assess hearing aid benefit in children, why and what benefits they give.
Wireless Accessories
A brief introduction to which devices are out there and when to fit them.
Roger System
An introduction to Phonak’s Roger technology and an overview of the connectivity options.
Communicating with Parents, Children and Young People
Communication skills scenarios and explanation related to hearing aid fitting and reviews.
Introduction to Complex Fittings
How to approach the hearing aid fitting when dealing with children with unusual hearing loss configurations or other additional needs.
Issues after Fitting
Addressing the needs of children wearing and managing hearing devices following fitting including maintenance and earpieces; understanding the older children issues around compliance and helping them in dealing with this.
Transition Services
Transitioning from the paediatric to the adult service can be a daunting proposition – how can we make this as smooth a process as possible for our patients.
Multi-Disciplinary Teams
Examples of other professionals that we could (and should!) work with.
PRACTICAL WORKSHOPS
Hands-on workshops in small groups (20 mins each) with Oticon, GN Hearing, Phonak, Signia, Interacoustics and Otometrics. The workshops will be:
Paediatric Hearing Aids available from Oticon, GN Hearing and Phonak.
RECD (practice and discussion) with Signia, Interacoustics and Otometrics.
Phonak Roger system, devices available and troubleshooting.
Planning the Hearing Aid Fitting & Review
Why do we plan the session. Examples of case studies and planning for hearing aid fitting and reviews, and specific considerations for children.
