Date of Award
1989
Document Type
Practicum
Degree Name
Doctor of Education
Department
Center for the Advancement of Education
Advisor
Aaron Washington
Committee Member
Mary Ellen Sapp
Keywords
academic performance, anatomy and physiology, audiology, auditory evaluations, auditory tests, communication disorders, conductive hearing loss, conductive pathology, diagnostic tests, ear diseases, hearing conservation, hearing impairment, hearing screening, identification, in-service training, language development, medical referral, middle ear, normal and abnormal ear structures, otologic referral, otologists, otoscope operation, otoscopic visualization, outer ear, partial hearing, pathological conditions, preschool children, school-aged children, screening tests, speech pathologists, teacher training, early identification, referral delays, hearing disorders, hearing assessment, hearing health, professional development, school health services, auditory screening programs, mastery learning, clinical skills training, medical intervention, communication development, educational outcomes
Abstract
This practicum was designed to improve the identification of conductive pathologies in preschool and school-aged children by speech pathologists through in-service training. The primary goal was to reduce the significant delays in referral to otologists for immediate medical care to alleviate conductive pathology and reduce the risk of delays in language and academic performance. The secondary goal included the identification of obvious conductive hearing losses at the school building level and the immediate referral to otologists for medical care.
The writer conducted several in-service training programs designed to improve speech pathologist's skills in otoscopic visualizations as part of the hearing screening program. The writer provided training on the anatomy and physiology of the outer and middle ear structures, effects of conductive pathology and associated hearing loss on language development and academic performance, use and operation of an otoscope, identification of pathological conditions of the outer and middle ear structures, requirements and procedures for immediate otologic referral and otoscopic appearance of normal of the ear structures as compared to abnormal disease structures of the outer and middle ear.
The results of the practicum were positive, the goals and objectives of the practicum were met, and analysis of all objectives revealed 100% mastery by all the speech pathologists who participated in the in-service training program. A reduction in significant delays in referral to otologists for immediate medical care to alleviate conductive pathology and reduce the risk of delays in language and academic performance was achieved.