Proposal

Hearing loss is one of the most common disabilities. It is estimated that more than 30 million people in the country have significant hearing loss. One of the early steps in the evaluation and management of hearing loss is its proper detection and identification. This process is referred to as Hearing Screening. The process of hearing screening has been performed by our student clinicians and faculty for the past two decades. These hearing screenings has been performed on campus, health fairs, and in many schools in this area. Over the past few years we have also been able to provide hearing screening in underserved educational institutions. We have been able to identify many cases of undetected hearing loss and have referred them to the appropriate treatment centers in this area. The data shows that those children with early detection and management of hearing loss significantly show improvement in their academic skills. The Audiology Laboratory at Communication Sciences and disorders is requesting purchase of a new screening audiometer. The current screening audiometers (X2) that we own are more than 25 years old and they are not repairable. It is extremely important to train and educate our students with proper devices so they can provide hearing screenings at remote areas in our community.