Introduction
The Maico Pilot Audiometer is a speech
recognition audiometer that is used to screen young children for hearing
loss. It is available in English or English/Spanish and is easy to use,
portable and quick! This technique has been extremely reliable over the
past several decades in the early identification of hearing loss in children.
For older children, an automatic pure tone audiometer function is included,
which screens at 40db, 30db, 20db, between 500 Hz and 4000Hz..
Product
Overview and Description
The Maico Pilot Audiometer is a fun, accurate hearing test for preschool
children. The Pilot (speech recognition audiometer) was designed to screen
very young children for hearing loss. For this age group, traditional pure
tone audiometers are often threatening and the directions are difficult
for the child to comprehend. Very young children often miss tones or raise
their hands inappropriately during this screening process. As a result,
medical professionals may choose not to screen the preschool population.
This is unfortunate because preschool age is a critical time developmentally
for children. Young children with hearing loss can be mislabeled as developmentally
delayed when the real issue may be some degree of hearing loss. The Pilot
Audiometer is non-threatening and has "game-like" instructions.
Children that have difficulty responding to beeps are sometimes capable
and comfortable responding to speech. A list of words called spondee words
have been developed that are ideal for screening preschool children. Spondee
words are compound or bisyllabic words such as toothbrush, bathtub or cupcake,
presented with equal stress on both syllables. This easy to use, portable
unit incorporates a four color, 12-character picture board, with voice chip
technology. Instead of tones being presented, a friendly voice asks the
child to "point to the airplane", or "show me the firetruck".
The child is asked to identify 10 pictures presented at 8-descending decibel
levels. The operator scores the child's responses as they point to the corresponding
pictures on the board. A full screening of both ears can be completed in
less than four minutes. The Maico Pilot is available in an English or English/Spanish
unit.
Product
Use and Procedure
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Set-up:
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| 1. |
Set
up your Pilot Audiometer in a quiet room furnished with a desk or
table. Try to keep noise levels to a minimum. When placing the picture
board on the table, make sure the child being screened can comfortably
point to the pictures. |
| 2. |
Plug
the operator's earphone into the jack on the rear panel. |
| 3. |
The
operator's earphone volume can be adjusted by "sliding"
the control (at arrow) left or right. |
| 4. |
Plug
the headset into the back panel of the unit. Either jack may be used. |
| 5. |
Plug
the electrical cord in the back panel. |
| 6. |
Plug
the AC adapter into the wall outlet. |
| 7. |
Turn
the unit on. The "power up" switch (on and off) is located
on the back of the unit between the electrical cord and volume control.
When the unit is first turned on the following lights will be illuminated:
bird's left eye and #1 on the airplane's tail. The unit is now ready
for screening. |
| 8. |
To
change from English to Spanish or vice versa - When powering the unit
up, press and hold the Start and Test Ear keys at the same time until
the unit has finished blinking. This will switch you from one language
to the other. Since the spondee words are different, the English/Spanish
unit comes complete with two picture boards. |
| |
Using
the Pilot:
Five buttons
operate the Pilot Audiometer. The function of each button is as follows: |
| |
Start:
Press the start button to begin. The indicator light on the kite will
illuminate. It will turn off when the series is completed. |
| |
Test
Ear:
Pressing the test ear button will allow you to choose the ear to be
screened. The applicable ear, (left or right), indicator light will
illuminate. |
| |
Pause:
Pressing the pause button will interrupt or continue the current series.
The butterfly indicator light will illuminate when the series is paused,
and will turn off when the series is resumed. |
| |
Series:
When the series button is pressed, the sequence will advance, indicated
by the light on the tail of the airplane. When series four has been
completed, the sequence will automatically return to series one. |
| |
Pure
Tone: When
the pure tone button is pressed, the indicator light on the cloud
will illuminate. The tone sequence will begin when the start button
is pressed. |
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|
| |
Getting
Started: |
| |
 |
Preparing
the child: The best way to prepare a child is to pretend that he/she
is going to play "The Pilot" Audiometer game. It is best
if the child can review the pictures and corresponding words on the
laminated picture sheet prior to screening. |
| |
|
The
game can be played sitting or standing. Tell the child the pilot needs
their help and is going to ask them some questions. The headset is
introduced by stating that they are going to wear a headset "just
like the pilot" and should listen carefully to what the pilot
asks. Place red earphone on right ear. |
| |
|
Place
the operator earphone in your ear. Press the START button. When you
first turn on the unit, it will automatically be set to screen the
"left ear" (bird's left eye will be illuminated). The first
series will be 10 words presented in eight different descending decibel
levels and generally starts on the left ear. The second series is
another set of 10 words presented to the right ear (operator chooses
which ear by depressing TEST EAR). You and the child will hear the
voice say, "Okay, let's look at the pictures," followed
by "show me the …" In the Spanish mode the prompts
and test is done completely in Spanish. |
| |
|
The
child will point to the pictures as the operator follows along with
the patient on the operator earphone. The operator will mark the results
on the score pad. The first phrase will be heard by the child at 50
dB and the following phrases will get softer by 5 dB until the final
3 phrases are heard at 15 dB. On the scorecard the goal is to get
the child to score at least one time at 25 or below. The child will
get 5 chances to accomplish this. (Please check your state specific
referral criteria and guidelines). The entire test lasts under 4 minutes! |
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|
| |
Pure
Tone Function: |
| |
The
pure tone function allows you to screen more mature children. The
picture board is not necessary, and the score pad can be used for
either screening process. After turning the unit on, push the PURE
TONE button. The light in the cloud will illuminate. Then press START
to begin the automatic tone sequence. Instruct the child to raise
their hand every time they hear the beep. The child will be presented
beeps at 40 dB, 30 dB, and 20 dB at 500, 1000, 2000 and 4000 Hz. To
return to Speech Reception, press the SERIES button.
|
Features
and Benefits
|
Features
of the Maico Pilot Audiometer |
|
It's quick -
The Pilot can screen each ear in less than two minutes per ear! |
|
It's accurate
- It can assist in determining hearing loss in even the youngest of
children. Potential developmental speech problems could then be avoided. |
|
It's easy to
use - All the staff can be trained on operation and scoring providing
greater flexibility and more productive staff time. |
|
The directions
are fun and easy - Even young preschoolers can understand the non-threatening
directions and focus on the test. Children are more responsive and
anxiety is reduced. |
|
The Pilot has
speech recognition & pure tone screening modes - older children
can be screened using the same unit. |
|
Bilingual - You
can easily test your students that are Spanish speaking even if you
have a language barrier. |
|
One-year warranty
- This assures the Pilot's performance or the unit will be repaired
or replaced within a year at no additional cost.
|
Frequently
Asked Questions
| Q: |
Do
I need to complete all 4 series of responses with a child to complete
a screening? |
| A: |
In screening most
children, it is only necessary to complete two series of responses
on the score card (e.g. series 1 for the left ear, then series 2 for
the right ear). Series 3 & 4 would be completed only if there
was a need for an additional screening or if there is an operator
preference for the sequencing of the picture names.
|
| Q: |
Is
the Pilot a Tympanometer? |
| A: |
No. A Tympanometer
will confirm the "wellness" of the tympanic membrane but
will not confirm if the child has any associated hearing loss. Also
a child may have a normal tympanogram and still have hearing loss.
|
| Q: |
How
is this different from the Audiometer I already own? |
| A: |
Pure tone audiometry
is difficult to perform with children under 5 years of age. Pure tone
audiometers are often threatening and the directions can be difficult
for a child to understand. Children will often miss tones or raise
their hands and never lower them. The Pilot Audiometer was designed
specifically for the pediatric/preschool child and will allow your
office to efficiently and accurately screen this age group for hearing
loss.
|
| Q: |
What
is speech recognition and when was it developed? |
| A: |
Speech recognition
has been accepted for 20+ years as a valid screening procedure in
the clinical and school settings. In 1962 the Mayo Clinic developed
the first speech reception audiometer to evaluate preschool children.
The rationale was that very young children have short attention spans
and exhibit problems with comprehending the directions associated
with traditional pure tone audiometry. Anyone that has tried to administer
pure tone audiometry screening to young children is very aware of
the problems and inefficiencies. In comparison, speech recognition
screening incorporates simple, non-threatening directions. The child
is asked to listen to a series of two syllable (spondee) words at
different decibel levels from 50db to 15db, in 5db increments, and
respond by pointing to the appropriate pictures on the picture board.
The operator notes and records each response of the child on the score
sheet.
|
| Q: |
Does
it come with a printer? |
| A: |
No. The hard copy
scoring is a series of check marks performed by the operator observing
the child's response (or lack of response). This copy could then be
inserted in the child's file.
|
| Q: |
How
big is the unit? |
| A: |
The Pilot Audiometer
is only 9" x 12" and weighs 2.5 lbs. The audiometer fits
neatly in a case with the picture board, headphones and accessories.
|
| Q: |
Can
the Pilot save me time in screening preschool children? |
| A: |
Both ears can be
screened in only minutes. The directions and screening are so easy
that you should be able to get an accurate screening in limited time.
One suggestion is to have the students familiarize themselves with
the pictures on the board before you begin the test.
|
| Q: |
Where
do I setup the Pilot of a screening? |
| A: |
The perfect setting
is in a quiet room furnished with a desk or table. When placing the
picture board on the table make sure the child being screened can
comfortably point to the pictures.
|
| Q: |
How
do I prepare the child for the screening? |
| A: |
First the child
will need to learn the correct names for the pictures. This can hopefully
done ahead of time with the parents or teachers. The best way to prepare
a child is to pretend that he/she is going to play the Pilot game.
Once you are confident the child recognizes the pictures, tell the
child that the pilot needs his/her help and will ask a few questions.
Tell the child in order to hear the pilot he/she needs to put on the
headphones like the pilot wears. Explain the pilot will ask where
a picture is and that he/she should point to it. The child should
be told the voice will start out loud and get softer so they should
listen carefully!
|
| Q: |
What
are spondee words? |
| A: |
Spondee words are
compound or bisyllabic words such as toothbrush and baseball, presented
with equal stress on both syllables.
|
| Q: |
Can
the unit perform pure tone audiometry for my older children? |
| A: |
Yes. After turning
on the unit, push the Pure Tone button. The light in the cloud will
illuminate and the unit will be in pure tone mode.
|
| Q: |
How
do I clean my Pilot? |
| A: |
Unplug the electrical
cord to clean the unit. Clean by applying a mild soap to a soft cloth
or paper towel. Wipe the unit including the LED and rear panel. Use
caution around the connector area.
|
| Q: |
My
school has many Spanish-speaking students; can the Pilot test in Spanish? |
| A: |
Yes. You can purchase
the unit in English or English/Spanish. When powering the unit up,
press and hold the Start and Test Ear keys at the same time until
the unit has finished blinking. This will switch you from one language
to the other. Since the spondee words are different, the English/Spanish
unit comes with two picture boards.
|
| Q: |
When
in Spanish mode, is the picture board the same as in English mode? |
| A: |
No. 2 different
picture boards are provided with the English / Spanish model. The
spondee words are different when the language is translated so different
items appear on the picture board when testing in Spanish.
|
Technical
Specifications
| Technical
Specs of the Maico Pilot Audiometer |
| Frequency
Response : |
130 - 8000 Hz. |
| Power: |
100 volt - 140 volt AC, 50 - 60 Hz, 10 watts |
| Standards: |
ANSI S3.6 (R1989) Audiometer specification |
| Automatic
Pure Tone Audiometer |
| Frequency: |
500,
1K, 2K, 4K Hz + /3% |
| Levels: |
40,
30, 20 dB HL + /3% |
| Headphones: |
TDH 39 |
| Dimensions |
| Size: |
12 x 9 x 2 inches, 30.5 x 23.5 cm |
| Weight: |
2.59 pounds, 1169.80 grams |
Articles / Sales
Brochures / Manuals
To
review information about Maico Diagnostics or a sales brochure on the Pilot
Audiometer from Maico, click
here.
Warranty
One-year
parts and labor.
Reimbursement
Reimbursement
rates vary by state and by insurance carrier. Medical professionals may
reference the following CPT code numbers when determining the reimbursement
amount by patient.
| CPT
Codes |
| 92583 |
Select
Picture Audiometry - $30 average reimbursement amount |
| 92551 |
Screening
Audiometry (pure tone) - $12 average reimbursement amount |
Other Information
|
Calibration
Calibration
should be performed once a year by a factory authorized service center.
Routine Care
Unplug the electrical cord when cleaning your unit. Clean by applying
a mild soap to a soft cloth or paper towel. Wipe the unit, including
the LED and back panel. Use caution around the connector area.
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Product Ordering Information
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