School Affairs
VSHA School Affairs Committee Meeting, April 2024
Purpose
The School Affairs Committee meets monthly to discuss topics related to the provision of educational audiology and speech language pathology services.
Educational Audiology
Educational Audiologists are members of the school multidisciplinary team who facilitate listening, learning and communication access via specialized assessments; monitor personal hearing instruments; recommend, fit and manage hearing assistance technology (HAT); provide and recommend support services and resources.
Click here to access the educational audiology scope of practice.
Audiologists are related service providers on an Individualized Education Plan.
There is only one license in Vermont for all Audiologists. This is through the VT Office of Professional Regulation.
There are different professionals in schools who support students who are deaf, hard of hearing, or deaf blind. Use these checklists to understand the roles of each professional.
Comparing Roles for Teams that support children who are DHHDB
TODs, Educational Audiologists, or SLPs? Who does what?
Audiologists are the professionals singularly qualified to select and fit all forms of amplification for children and youth, including personal hearing aids, frequency/digitally-modulated (FM/DM) systems, and other HAT. Laws in Vermont explicitly state that provision of hearing aids and accessories to children (including FM/DM systems) must be carried out exclusively by an audiologist.
If the child with hearing differences has a clinical audiologist, why do they need an educational audiologist? Both are very important, but responsibilities can depend on student needs. Here is a checklist to help determine roles.
16 reasons why your school needs an educational audiologist
HELP! I HAVE A NEW CHILD ON MY CASELOAD WITH HEARING DIFFERENCES. WHERE DO I START? Have a team meeting and use the VT Quality Indicator Checklist for children who are DHHDB (deaf, hard of hearing, or deafblind) in your discussion!
There are two primary VT statewide programs available to help!
(800) 770-6103 ext.225
Let’s work together to maximize outcomes for children who are deaf, hard of hearing, or deafblind (DHHDB)!
Click the image to download a PDF of our Educational Audiology Infographic.