Benefits of Hearing Assistive Technology for Infants and Young Children

Audiology

Intermediate

Self-Study

5hr 9min

Continuing Education

0.50 AAA CEUs
5.00 AG Bell CEUs
0.50 ASHA CEUs

Register until Dec. 31, 2026

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Course Overview
Course Outline

Course Overview

As the name implies, hearing assistive technologies (HAT) are designed to help individuals overcome hearing difficulties encountered in listening situations that are often challenging for those with auditory deficits. HATs may be used in conjunction with hearing aids, cochlear implants, and/or bone conduction devices, or they may be used in isolation. This learning experience will focus on the use of HATs to optimize the listening and spoken language development of infants and young children with hearing loss. Remote microphone systems are the most commonly used HAT with infants and young children and will be a primary topic of discussion in this learning experience. However, additional HATs will also be discussed.

This learning experience will address the reasons for why HAT should be routinely considered for use by infants and children with hearing loss along with recommendations for when and how HAT should be used with this population. This learning experience will also highlight the differences between remote microphone systems with infrared, FM, and digital radio transmission including the potential limitations and benefits of each. Additionally, this learning experience will provide a description of numerous aspects pertaining to HATs including electromagnetic induction, digital radio frequency transmission, fixed and adaptive remote microphone systems, adaptive beamformers, Bluetooth, Auracast, etc. Whenever possible, a review of peer-reviewed research studies associated with these technologies will be provided. Moreover, this learning experience will review the clinical practices associated with the selection, verification, and validation of HATs with a focus on remote microphone systems. Finally, this learning experience will provide a detailed description of the features, operation, use, maintenance, and potential limitations and benefits of modern HATs used with cochlear implants and hearing aids.

Course Timeline

30 Days

Primary Audience

Audiology and LSL Professionals

Key Outcomes

Describe frequency modulated radio systems, Bluetooth technology, Auracast technology, and adaptive digital radio frequency systems.
Describe at least one difference between fixed-gain and adaptive remote microphone systems.
Describe a clinical protocol for the verification remote microphone systems.
Describe at least two features and operational characteristics of at least three modern hearing assistive technologies used today with infants and young children with hearing loss.

Course Outline

Hearing Assistive Technologies: Best Practices for use with Infants and Young Children
2h 37m
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[embed:36efd594-647a-47a1-9350-90a1e89aac01:89a7ac35-395a-4603-a63e-274bc9ff31c2:title=Live%20Session%20Recording&duration=3660&itemdetails=]
Learning Content
1h 36m
- Introduction and Overview | 5m
- Why HAT? | 26m
  
  Acoustics
  
  Hearing in Noise
  
  Challenging listening environments for children in EI
  
  Literature Supporting Improved CDS/Exposure
  
  Basic description of HAT (Overview of different types of HAT)
- Remote microphone technology fundamentals | 20m
  
  Types of remote microphone systems
  
  Types of signal transmission (frequency modulation, digital radio frequency, Bluetooth, Auracast, other)
  
  Fixed vs Adaptive
  
  Microphone technologies
  
  Personal vs. classroom audio distribution system
- Research pertaining to remote microphone systems & benefits | 20m
- Verification and validation of remote microphone systems | 20m
- Summary and wrap-up | 5m
Live Session Recording
1h 1m
Hearing Assistive Technologies: Commercially available technologies
2h 32m
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[embed:36efd594-647a-47a1-9350-90a1e89aac01:02d774d4-de8c-411d-8f83-8dff8857976b:title=Manufacturer%20Specific%20Remote%20Microphone%20Systems%20%26%20Accessories&duration=3060&itemdetails=%3Cul%3E%0A%3Cli%3EIntroduction%20%2F%20Connecting%20with%26nbsp%3BLesson%201%20%7C%203m%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3EAdvanced%20Bionics%2FPhonak%20%7C%2010m%3Cbr%20%2F%3E%0A%3Cul%3E%0A%3Cli%3EBasic%20Use%20%26amp%3B%20Operation%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3EPros%2FCons%26nbsp%3B%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3C%2Ful%3E%0A%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3ECochlear%20%7C%2010m%0A%3Cul%3E%0A%3Cli%3EBasic%20Use%20%26amp%3B%20Operation%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3EPros%2FCons%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3C%2Ful%3E%0A%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3EMedEL%20%7C%2010m%0A%3Cul%3E%0A%3Cli%3EBasic%20Use%20%26amp%3B%20Operation%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3EPros%2FCons%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3C%2Ful%3E%0A%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3EOticon%2F%20Oticon%20Medical%20%7C%2010m%0A%3Cul%3E%0A%3Cli%3EBasic%20Use%20%26amp%3B%20Operation%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3EPros%2FCons%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3C%2Ful%3E%0A%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3EImportant%20Takeaways%20%7C%208m%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3C%2Ful%3E]

[embed:36efd594-647a-47a1-9350-90a1e89aac01:357bad9d-bffe-4afe-984f-ec91996f4f82:title=Live%20Session%20Recording&duration=3720&itemdetails=]
Universal remote microphone systems & accessories
39m
- Intro | 5m
- Basic Use & Operation | 10m
- Pros & Cons | 10m
- Helpful features and considerations | 10m
- Important Takeaways | 4m
Manufacturer Specific Remote Microphone Systems & Accessories
51m
- Introduction / Connecting with Lesson 1 | 3m
- Advanced Bionics/Phonak | 10m
  
  Basic Use & Operation
  
  Pros/Cons
- Cochlear | 10m
  
  Basic Use & Operation
  
  Pros/Cons
- MedEL | 10m
  
  Basic Use & Operation
  
  Pros/Cons
- Oticon/ Oticon Medical | 10m
  
  Basic Use & Operation
  
  Pros/Cons
- Important Takeaways | 8m
Live Session Recording
1h 2m

Featuring

Sara Neumann
AuD, CCC-A
View Profile

Sara Neumann, Au.D., is a clinical and research audiologist and the Audiology Research Manager at Hearts for Hearing in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. She specializes in pediatric audiology and cochlear implants and conducts research studies evaluating clinically relevant outcomes with hearing aids, cochlear implants, and remote microphone technology, and treatment for single sided deafness. She has co-authored several articles and textbook chapters with Dr. Jace Wolfe on pediatric amplification, implantable hearing devices, and cochlear implant programming. Dr. Neumann is also an adjunct professor at University of Oklahoma and co-teaches a module on Assistive Technology and Collaborative Care for the Institute for Cochlear Implant Training’s Advanced Audiology Course. She has a B.S. in Deaf Education from Northern Illinois University (2003), working as a deaf educator for six years in both a self-contained classroom, as an itinerant teacher, and as a Developmental Therapist-Hearing for deaf and hard of hearing children, ages 0-3, in Illinois prior to returning to school. She obtained her Doctorate of Audiology (Au.D.) from Illinois State University. She has been at Hearts for Hearing since 2012 and the Audiology Research Manager since 2018.

Financial Disclosures: Dr. Neumann receives compensation as Audiologist and Research Manager for Hearts for Hearing. She receives compensation from the University of Oklahoma as an adjunct professor. She also receives compensation from Hearing First to facilitate this course.

Non-financial Disclosures: Dr. Neumann is a member of ASHA Sig 9, Pediatric Hearing and Hearing Disorders.

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The Hearing First learning experiences are designed to foster the understanding and application of the science and art of audiology and LSL practice. The opinions and comments of facilitators and learners in these learning experiences are theirs and not necessarily the viewpoints shared by Hearing First. As a reminder, Hearing First Learning Experiences are governed by and subject to the Hearing First Terms of Use, Privacy Policy, and Community Code of Conduct, and we encourage all Community Members participating in a Hearing First Learning Experience to review our policies regularly. Hearing First provides free learning experiences to its community members, offering links to open-access resources (handouts, articles, videos) for educational purposes. While we've exercised our right to access and share these resources for charitable and educational use, we make no representations or assume liability regarding your rights. Please familiarize yourself with the publisher's copyright notices, restrictions, and requirements, and note that republishing is solely at your discretion. [ Read More ]

Hearing First is approved by the AG Bell Academy for Listening and Spoken Language to offer Continuing Education Hours for Listening and Spoken Language Specialist (LSLS) certification. This program has been approved for a maximum of 5.00 CEUs. AG Bell Academy approval of this course is based on information shared by the approved provider. Views shared by the presenter(s) may not necessarily reflect the views of the AG Bell Academy for Listening and Spoken Language either in part or whole.

Hearing First is approved by the American Academy of Audiology to offer Academy CEUs for this activity. The program is worth a maximum of 0.50 CEUs. Academy approval of this continuing education activity is based on course content only and does not imply endorsement of course content, specific products, or clinical procedure, or adherence of the event to the Academy's Code of Ethics. Any views that are presented are those of the presenter/CE Provider and not necessarily of the American Academy of Audiology.

Hearing First Intermediate Level
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