Special Educators’ Perspectives on the Services and Benefits of Educational Audiologists

Abstract

A 36-item survey was used to determine whether special educators have access to the services of an audiologist and whether they obtained benefit from the audiologist’s services. Additional goals included gathering information about special educators’ understanding of basic audiological concepts related to a school setting, added job responsibilities brought about by lack of access to an audiologist, and collaboration between these teachers and audiologists. The survey was emailed to special educators identified through online school district directories. A total of 39% of the surveyed special educators had access to an educational/contractual audiologist, with 71% of them believing they received benefit from these services. These benefits included provision of hearing screenings, in-services, and aural (re)habilitation. In all, 73% of the special educators judged their own background understanding of basic audiological information within the “low” range, and most of the special education teachers surveyed did not feel prepared to assist students with hearing aids, FM systems, or cochlear implants. Less than half of the special educators (47%) reported that collaboration between these professionals was strong where available. Special educators consider themselves unprepared to handle the audiological maintenance needs of their students’ equipment and are often unaware of the audiologist’s role, including their availability in schools.