Audiology is a branch of science that studies hearing, balance, and related disorders. Its practitioners, who treat those with hearing loss and proactively prevent related damage are audiologists. Employing various testing strategies (e.g. hearing tests, otoacoustic emission measurements, videonystagmography, and electrophysiologic tests), audiology aims to determine whether someone can hear within the normal range, and if not, which portions of hearing (high, middle, or low frequencies) are affected and to what degree. If an audiologist determines that a hearing loss or vestibular abnormality is present he or she will provide recommendations to a patient as to what options (e.g. hearing aid, cochlear implants, appropriate medical referrals) may be of assistance.Audiology services are available at:
Willamette ESD Marion Center
2611 Pringle Rd. SE
Salem, OR 97302
Willamette ESD Yamhill Center
2045 SW Highway 18
McMinnville, OR 97128
Mobile Testing Van
Our mobile hearing testing van has the ability for soundproof testing. The van travels to schools within Marion, Polk and Yamhill counties for testing of eligible students.
ReferralsWillamette Education Service District is a screening and a diagnostic audiology facility for infants who have not passed the newborn hearing test .Referrals for audiological testing for children age 5 or younger may be obtained by a parent, any other individual or agency, by calling (503) 540-4461 or 1-888-560-4666 to make a request for a hearing evaluation or by going to the website provided below:Referrals for testing children in kindergarten and older must come from the local school district. If parents, or any other referring party, have a concern about a student’s hearing, they may contact the school’s Speech and Language Pathologist (SLP), or the school’s Special Education Teacher. The student’s hearing will need to be screened by the SLP. After two failed screenings a student may then be referred to Willamette ESD for an audiological evaluation.
TestingAudiological testing includes the following:
- Hearing evaluation, which may include the following: standard audiometry, visual reinforcement audiometry, conditioned play audiometry, speech audiometry and tympanometry
- Otoacoustic emissions (OAE)
- Hearing aid evaluation with state of the art hearing aid technology,
- Electroacoustic analysis of hearing aids
- Earmold impressions
- Fitting, monitoring and repair of hearing aids, earmolds and FM devices
- Cochlear implant troubleshooting
- Assistive technology including personal, desktop, and soundfield FM systems
- Consultation with parents and teachers regarding hearing loss, educational and audiological needs of the child
- Loaner bank of hearing aids and assistive listening devices
Referral for evaluation does not imply automatic eligibility. Each child’s developmental or academic needs will be evaluated along with the results of the hearing test, by the Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP) team (for early intervention age children) or the Individualized Education Plan (IEP) team (for school age children) to determine the need for special education services from the Willamette ESD Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing Program.
CostThere is no fee for the hearing evaluation or consultation. Parents are responsible for the cost of hearing aids, earmolds and hearing aid repairs. Alternate funding such as Oregon Health Plan, insurance coverage and or private resources may be available.For information contact:Eleni BostonCoordinatorPhone: 503.385.4606Fax: 503.540.4473Email: email@example.com