PP203 - Pediatric Auditory Technology and Habilitation Specialty Training for Doctorate of Audiology Students

Abstract:
The Pediatric Audiology Technology and Habilitation (PATH) graduate certificate program at The University of Texas at Dallas was designed to train AUD students to work with children who are deaf/hard of hearing and their families to maximize their auditory communication. The certificate program includes comprehensive training objectives to be completed via coursework, clinical activities, and professional and service opportunities. PATH students gain an increased knowledge in specialized areas including the unique needs of these children in general educational environments, auditory management and development of auditory-oral skills, advances in auditory technology, and the effect of multicultural factors on assessment and intervention.

Summary:
Currently, 5 of the top 10 audiology graduate programs offer pediatric specialization, but only two offer these as certificate programs (i.e., Vanderbilt University and Washington University in St. Louis). In Texas, only 13,370 speech-language pathologists and 1,288 audiologists serve 7,000 children who are deaf/hard of hearing {CDHH} and their families. These statistics reflect all professionals and not just those trained to work with CDHH. The majority of these audiologists who reported serving ages birth to 5 years are concentrated in metropolitan areas including Dallas Ft Worth, Houston, Austin, and San Antonio rendering a shortage of clinicians trained via a specific curriculum focused on this population in Texas. There is clearly a need for additional training to prepare professionals to serve these CDHH and their families in Texas.

Starting in 2023, The University of Texas at Dallas and the Callier Center for Communication Disorders offer a unique opportunity to offer specialized training for audiologists to provide services for children/families, birth to 21 years, who have communication challenges secondary to hearing loss. Degree-seeking students admitted to the Doctor of Audiology program at UTD may apply for the PATH specialty training if they have maintained a GPA of 3.0 and have satisfactory clinical performance during their first year in the AUD program. Students are required to complete 15 hours of specialized coursework that includes courses in Cochlear Implants and Aural Habilitation of Children with Hearing impairments and associated Labs, two semester of PATH methods, and a research project focused on a pediatric habilitation topic. The coursework combined with a set of practicum and competency experiences are designed to prepare them to apply knowledge for CDHH, 0 to 18 years,  in the following areas.

1. Speech-language-hearing, behavioral, and related sciences to the assessment of typical and atypical anatomy and physiology of the auditory and vestibular systems and related structures with regard to physical, physiologic, and psychosocial effects of changes and disorders for CDHH.


2. Effective professional services in their respective disciplines to families of CDHH.


3. The unique needs of CDHH in general and special educational environments.


4. Auditory management and the development of auditory-oral skills in CDHH.


5. Interdisciplinary service models for CDHH.


6. Advances in auditory technology, including hearing aids, cochlear implants, remote wireless systems, and other assistive listening devices; and


7. The effect of multicultural factors on assessment and intervention.

Following the completion of coursework and practicum for PATH requirements and other degree requirements, students complete a fourth year externship at a pediatric site. The set of learning outcomes are being assessed as the first student will graduate this fall, and another 5 in the spring. The poster will include a review of the purpose, coursework, practicum experiences, related competencies and a QR code will be provided to receive more in-depth descriptions of each component as a model for other training programs.