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Elements and Performance Criteria

1. Elements define the essential outcomes
2. Prepare for hearing assessments
   • Ensure information, including required forms, is accessible and ready for use
   • Achieve required ambient noise levels in preparation of testing environment
   • Prepare, calibrate and check equipment and instruments
   • Ensure personal protective equipment is available and used
3. Establish a positive relationship with the client
   • Take client case history and explain practice/hearing service administrative procedures
   • Determine client’s expectations through questioning and active listening
   • Gain consent from clients where applicable
   • Give client the opportunity to ask questions and discuss concerns
   • Identify and respond to special needs of client
   • Maintain confidentiality of client information
4. Conduct otoscopy
   • Follow personal hygiene and infection control procedures
   • Conduct otoscopy in a non-threatening manner and produce valid, reliable and accurate results in accordance with relevant policy and procedures
   • Identify and respond to any abnormalities of the ear canal
   • Identify contra-indications for proceeding with further hearing assessments
   • Make referralto appropriate agency for further assessment and treatment if required
5. Test hearing
   • Explain procedure to client using language the client understands
   • Identify significant features of client history
   • Select and conduct appropriate hearing tests following procedures for correct use of equipment
   • Produce valid, reliable and accurate results in accordance with relevant policy and procedures
   • Identify unreliable results and complete re-test according to standard protocols
   • Use results to identify specific hearing loss and/or any abnormal functions
   • Record results in accordance with relevant policy and procedures
   • Clean and store equipment in accordance with manufacturers’ requirements and infection control procedures
6. Interpret results
   • Accurately interpret data from individual test results
   • Integrate and interpret interrelationships between test battery results to establish a comprehensive clinical picture
   • Validate results for consistency across the test battery
7. Review assessment results with client
   • Communicate results of assessments clearly and simply to the client
   • Determine and discuss options to support client
   • Negotiate and establish realistic goals for the client
   • Document and file results in accordance with relevant policies and procedures
   • Determine recommendations for further assessment or referral to an appropriate facility or hearing aid fitting
8. • Write report using language and format that suits target audience according to organisation standards
   • Include clear, concise and relevant information of tests performed
   • Include summary, recommendations and any further action required
   • Read and edit report for spelling and grammatical correctness
9. Complete report
   • Write report using language and format that suits target audience according to organisation standards
   • Include clear, concise and relevant information of tests performed
   • Include summary, recommendations and any further action required
   • Read and edit report for spelling and grammatical correctness

Performance Evidence

The candidate must show evidence of the ability to complete tasks outlined in elements and performance criteria of this unit, manage tasks and manage contingencies in the context of the job role. There must be evidence that the candidate has:

followed established procedures and protocols to independently conduct full hearing assessments for at least 20 different adult clients presenting with different hearing capacity, including males and females of diverse age, cultural and linguistic range, and seniors:

selected the hearing tests appropriate to client needs

accurately tested and recorded pure tone audiometry (AC/BC masking) speech audiometry (performance intensity (PI) function, speech reception threshold (SRT), masking) and impedance audiometry test results (tympanometry, ipsi and contralateral reflexes, reflex decay)

integrated and validated results across the test battery

determined type of hearing loss from test results

recognised and responded appropriately when a client is not giving true thresholds

communicated effectively with clients using a client centred approach

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Knowledge Evidence

The candidate must be able to demonstrate essential knowledge required to effectively complete tasks outlined in elements and performance criteria of this unit, manage tasks and manage contingencies in the context of the work role. This includes knowledge of:

legal and ethical considerations (national and state/territory) for conduct of hearing assessments:

contractual obligations

duty of care

informed consent

privacy, confidentiality and disclosure

records management

work role boundaries – responsibilities and limitations:

boundaries of audiometrist role

generalist and specialist functions

relationship between audiometry and other health professionals

indicators for referral

Australian and international standards that apply to the conduct of a hearing assessment:

maximum ambient noise levels for assessments

equipment calibrations

standard infection control precautions

anatomy of the ear, including:

peripheral and central auditory system

potential physical abnormalities

hearing assessment battery elements:

taking case history

otoscopy

air

bone

speech discrimination (PI function)

SRT

masking (pure tone, speech)

tympanometry

ipsi/contralateral reflexes

reflex decay

causes and types of hearing loss

contraindications for hearing assessments

physical environment requirements for audiometric assessments – booths versus quiet rooms

equipment calibration both annual and biological

characteristics of hearing tests, including:

types

purpose of different tests

materials that can be used

suitability of tests for different clients

reliability/validity of particular tests

transducers (headphones, insert earphones, bone conductor, free field)

stimuli (pure tone, warble, pulsed, narrow band noise, broad band noises, speech)

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