Development of an ABA Tool Kit for Audiologists to Increase Hearing Aid Wear Time in Individuals with Autism

<p>When working with individuals with the dual-diagnosis of hearing loss and Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), audiologists are often faced with unique challenges and must adapt their approach in order to more effectively address the needs of these individuals. Currently, there is only a small body of research focused on the special considerations required for appropriately fitting and utilizing amplification for children with the dual-diagnosis of hearing loss and ASD. Subsequently, recommendations and strategies for clinicians to implement when faced with these common challenges, specifically of hearing aid compliance and appropriate hearing aid wear time, are lacking. It is important to find new strategies and techniques for audiologists to implement when working with individuals with this dual-diagnosis of hearing loss and ASD to more effectively overcome challenges and improve hearing aid compliance.</p> <p>The field of applied behavior analysis (ABA) shows promise regarding its potential implementation for audiologists when working with individuals with ASD. ABA is an approach to treatment with individuals with ASD with a significant body of research supporting its utilization in a variety of fields and settings. The ABA Tool Kit for Audiologist was developed in this capstone project to address the need for recommendations and strategies to utilize when encountering issues with hearing aid compliance and wear time with individuals with the dual-diagnosis of ASD and hearing loss. This tool kit is comprised of a variety of materials for audiologists to both familiarize themselves with ABA techniques and utilize on an individual patient basis. The primary goal of this tool kit is to equip audiologists with the knowledge and tools needed to foster patient-centered care and improve hearing aid compliance and wear time for individuals with the dual-diagnosis of ASD and hearing loss through the evidence-based approach of ABA.</p>

Name thesis:degree_name

Doctor of Audiology

Level thesis:degree_level

Doctoral

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Audiology

Grantor

The Graduate School and University Center of The City University of New York

Year dc:date.available

2020

Author dc:creator

• Brown, Lindsay

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Brett Martin

• Applied Behavior Analysis
• Other Rehabilitation and Therapy
• Speech and Hearing Science
• Speech Pathology and Audiology
• hearing aid
• compliance
• autism
• audiology
• behavior modification

Repository record dc:identifier

https://academicworks.cuny.edu/gc_etds/3777

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:academicworks.cuny.edu:gc_etds-4807