Application
This unit describes the skills and knowledge required to prepare for and conduct play pure tone audiometry tests for school age children without any developmental delay, using standard test protocols.
This unit applies to any person who assesses school aged children’s hearing. This may include audiometrists, allied health assistants who support audiologists in health care organisations, nurses and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health workers.
The skills in this unit must be applied in accordance with Commonwealth and State/Territory legislation, Australian/New Zealand standards and industry codes of practice.
Elements and Performance Criteria
ELEMENT | PERFORMANCE CRITERIA |
Elements define the essential outcomes | Performance criteria describe the performance needed to demonstrate achievement of the element. |
1. Prepare for tests | 1.1 Ensure information, including required forms, is accessible and ready for use 1.2 Achieve required ambient noise levels in preparation of testing environment 1.3 Prepare, calibrate and check equipment and instruments 1.4 Ensure personal protective equipment is available and used |
2. Establish a positive relationship with child and carer | 2.1 Explain the test procedure clearly and simply to the child 2.2 Gain consent from carer where applicable 2.3 Give child the opportunity to ask questions and discuss concerns 2.4 Identify and meet special needs of child 2.5 Maintain confidentiality of client information |
3. Conduct otoscopy | 3.1 Follow personal hygiene and infection control procedures 3.2 Conduct otoscopy in a non-threatening manner and produce valid, reliable and accurate results in accordance with relevant policy and procedures 3.3 Identify and respond to any abnormalities of the ear canal 3.4 Identify contra-indications for proceeding with further hearing assessments 3.5 Make referral |
4. Complete hearing test | 4.1 Follow personal hygiene and infection control procedures 4.2 Conduct play audiometry following procedures for correct use of equipment 4.3 Produce valid, reliable and accurate results in accordance with relevant policy and procedures (threshold or pass/fail screening) 4.4 Take steps to maximise test accuracy, validity and reliability 4.5 Identify unreliable results and complete re-test according to standard protocols 4.6 Conduct screening tympanometry in accordance with required procedures 4.7 Record results in accordance with relevant policies and procedures 4.8 Clean and store equipment in accordance with manufacturers’ requirements and infection control procedures |
5. Review test results with child and their carer | 5.1 Examine results and determine outcome from data obtained 5.2 Communicate outcome of tests clearly and simply to the child and their carer 5.3 Discuss options for further tests with carer 5.4 Give child and carer the opportunity to ask questions and discuss areas of concern 5.5 Document and file test results in accordance with relevant policies and procedures |
6. Refer client to appropriate facility | 6.1 Make referral to appropriate agency if required 6.2 Establish contact with referral agency and provide key client information 6.3 Discuss relevant issues and concerns with relevant personnel at facility 6.4 Follow up referral to ensure continuity of case management |
Evidence of Performance
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 pure tone play audiometry tests for at least 10 different children aged 4-6 years, recognising and responding appropriately when a child is not giving true thresholds
communicated effectively with children and carers using a client centred approach
Evidence of Knowledge
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 testing children’s hearing:
children in the workplace
duty of care
informed consent
policy frameworks – Australian Government Office of Hearing Services requirements
privacy, confidentiality and disclosure
records management
reporting requirements
work role boundaries – responsibilities and limitations:
boundaries of audiometrist role, including no role in diagnostics
relationship between audiometry and other health professionals
role of the family/carer
indicators for referral
stages of normal childhood speech and hearing development:
milestones
variations from the norm
key milestones in children’s cognitive development and how to assess these to facilitate testing
anatomy of children’s ears and the implications for otoscopy
play audiometry techniques:
conditioning
reliability and validity
visual cues
non-organic hearing loss
techniques for managing children during testing:
focusing attention to task
distraction
engagement
factors to consider when working with families during the testing process
Assessment Conditions
Skills must have been demonstrated in the workplace or in a simulated environment that reflects workplace conditions. The following conditions must be met for this unit:
use of suitable facilities, equipment and resources, including:
appropriate testing environment
age appropriate toys
modelling of industry operating conditions, including:
integration of problem solving activities
time constraints for completion of testing
provision of services to general public
Assessors must satisfy the Standards for Registered Training Organisations (RTOs) 2015/AQTF mandatory competency requirements for assessors.
Foundation Skills
The Foundation Skills describe those required skills (language, literacy, numeracy and employment skills) that are essential to performance. |
Foundation skills essential to performance are explicit in the performance criteria of this unit of competency. |