What is Audiology?

Audiology is the science of hearing . . . how it works, what happens when it doesn’t work, what can be done to help a person that cannot hear, and how to prevent hearing loss.  The educational audiologist supports students in their academic environments, and collaborates with community audiologists and physicians for the hearing healthcare plans of students in the District.  The educational audiologist also collaborates with Tulsa Public Schools Division of Health Services for an important Hearing Loss Identification Program, to ensure that all District students have their hearing screened annually.

TPS Audiology Services

Audiology services for Tulsa Public Schools students include free comprehensive audiological evaluations, auditory processing evaluations, hearing aid monitoring and basic repairs, FM system dispensing and monitoring, earmold impressions for school equipment, and coordination of the Hearing Loss Identification Program.

The Tulsa Public Schools audiologist works with Deaf education for equipment and audiological support for students along the continuum of learning, from self-contained classrooms to the mainstream classrooms.

What is an FM system?

An FM system is a device used for optimal speech intelligibility in all listening situations where the speech signal is degraded.  This could be due to background noise, such as a classroom situation; or when there is a great amount of distance between the listener and the speaker, such as a lecture hall or auditorium.

An FM system has two main components, the transmitter (teacher’s part) and the receiver (student’s part).  The transmitter uses an accessory called a microphone, to transmit the speaker’s voice via radio wave to the receiver, which is worn by the student.  The receiver can be used with a desktop speaker, headphones, or with the student’s hearing aid(s) for maximum audibility.

·        An FM system can overcome background noise problems by improving the signal-to-noise ratio by up to 20 dB.*

·        An FM system can reduce the speaker-listener distance to just 20-30 centimeters, which is the average distance of the transmitter microphone to the speaker’s mouth.
*  *courtesy of Phonak, Inc.

Did you know?

• Tulsa Public Schools has converted all of the FM system equipment to state-of-the-art ear level devices, both for comfort and maximum audibility for students.

• Tulsa Public Schools has a full-time audiologist to serve the hearing and listening needs of students in the District, from Deaf education to the Hearing Loss Identification Program.

• The Tulsa Public Schools audiologist works cooperatively with parents, teachers, nurses, principals, and those individuals involved in the education and success of our students.

Tulsa Public School's Educational Audiology Program

Tulsa Public Schools, the district of choice for over 41,000 students, is a pioneer in Oklahoma for the hearing health care of its students.  Taylor Young, Ph.D., Assistant Superintendent of Special Education and Student Services hired the district’s first educational audiologist in May 2006, to implement an aggressive campaign of identification and management of students with hearing loss in Tulsa Public Schools.  The audiologist works cooperatively with the division of Health Services to provide training of staff completing hearing screenings, and monitoring of the Hearing Loss Identification Program, and will also provide comprehensive audiology services to students in TPS that require evaluation and management of hearing loss.

Tulsa Public Schools has converted its entire FM system inventory to state-of-the-art technology, in order to provide TPS students access to auditory information in the classroom.    Assistive Technology is a team approach within Tulsa Public Schools, and the addition of audiology to the team has improved service delivery for both students and teachers.

Tulsa Public Schools is slated to receive a new, state-of-the-art audiological suite on-site at Eisenhower International School.  The audiologist provides comprehensive audiological services, including OAE, auditory processing evaluation, earmold impressions, and hearing aid services.  The addition of the audiology clinic provides students and their families a location within the district where they can be assured of receiving free, quality, diagnostic audiology and support services.