The Audiology Centre provides full hearing assessments for any student referred through the School-Based Team.  The district provides a Hearing-Screening Program, which screens all students in grade two, students new to the school district, as well as any students suspected of having hearing difficulties.  The Audiology Centre also receives referrals from the Kindergarten Hearing Screening Program administered by the Public Health Unit.

The Audiology Centre provides regular re-evaluations of the students with known hearing loss, ongoing monitoring of hearing aids and assistive listening devices for use in the classroom.  Support for the  Hearing Resource Teachers in maintaining this equipment is also a responsibility of the Audiology Centre.  In compliance with Worksafe BC standards, assessments are done for staff exposed to high noise levels.

The    Referral Process

Referrals must come from the screening programs or through the School-Based Team.  To receive audiological services, a pre-screening by the Audiology Assistant, Hearing Resource Teacher, Public Health or Speech Language Pathologist is required.

CENTRAL AUDITORY PROCESSING (C) APD - Best Practice Guidelines

The Student Services Department believes that it is important to clarify best practice guidelines in the area of central auditory processing.  As a result, referrals, assessment and intervention strategies will be consistent with current guidelines.  All referrals must go through the School Based Team. Criteria for candidacy for (C)APD  evaluations:

Age: Child must be 7 years or older (preferably 8 or older)
Cognitive status: Child must have an overall IQ that is age appropriate.

• Language: Child must be proficient in English
• Hearing: Child should have typical hearing levels, bilaterally
• Speech intelligibility: Child should not have a severe articulation    disor​der
• Emotional Status: Child should not be diagnosed with a severe emotional disorder.

PRE-ASSESSMENT PROCESS:
In order to ensure students presenting with listing difficulties are assessed thoroughly, the following guidelines are offered:

• Hearing must be screened at the school level
• Vision must have been assessed
• Speech-Language screening must be completed
• Psycho-educational assessment is preferred although a complete K-TEA II (include all supplementary subtests) may be accepted
• Completed (C) APD Screening Profile Form.
• APDQ quest​ionnaire completed by the teacher and parent

NOTE:   The results of the above screenings will be summarized by the Case Manager and presented to the School-Based Team to determine the next appropriate step (e.g. referral directly to the District Audiologist for (C)AP testing, referral for a comprehensive language assessment, referral for a pshychoeducational assessment). 
**A diagnosis of attentional difficulties requires a medical consultation. **

Follow-Up Procedures:
If the Auditory Processing assessment indicates the presence of central auditory processing difficulties, the Audiologist will provide recommendations for consideration and implementation by the School-Based Team.

 Contact:    Audiologist, Central Elementary School   -   604-464-0609   Fax: 604-937-8066​