| Q: |
How
is the Pilot 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 using speech recognition.
|
| Q: |
How
is the Digital Pilot different from the original Pilot audiometer?
|
| A: |
The Digital Pilot
contains MP3 sound files for the highest level of clarity when conducting
speech recognition testing. You can be completely confident that the
test levels are accurate throughout each sentence and neither time
nor amount of usage will change the sound quality. Each Digital Pilot
comes with both English and Spanish speech recognition tests, and
the entire test shows in graphics on the LCD screen while your patient
takes the test. The Digital Pilot still includes pure tone audiometry,
but it is now manual instead of automatic so you can control the speed
at which you present the tones.
|
| 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: |
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
be 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
two-syllable words such as toothbrush and baseball, presented with
equal stress on both syllables.
|
| Q: |
Can
the unit perform pure tone audiometry for older children? |
| A: |
Yes. After turning
on the unit, press the "Tone" button located in the sun
graphic. The light in the sun will illuminate and the unit will be
in pure tone mode. This is the traditional audiometry test.
|
| Q: |
Can the Pilot save
me time in screening preschool children?
|
| A: |
Yes. Both ears can
be screened in only minutes. You will also spend less time giving
directions for the test and in retesting children.
|
| Q: |
Where
do I set up the 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: |
Are
the tests CPT code reimbursable? |
| A: |
Yes. Select picture
audiometry is reimbursable with CPT code 92583; pure tone audiometry
is reimbursable with CPT code 92552. While the reimbursement amounts
vary by state and by carrier, the national average per test is $36.00
for select picture audiometry and $16.00 for pure tone threshold.
|
| 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: |
What
test levels does the Pilot have? |
| A: |
The select picture
audiometry (speech) decibel levels range from 15 dBHL to 50 dBHL in
steps of 5 dB. The pure tone decibel levels range from -10 dBHL to
100 dBHL in 5 dB steps.
|
| Q: |
What
frequency range does the Pilot have? |
| A: |
Test frequencies
for pure tone audiometry include 250, 500, 1000, 2000, 3000, 4000,
6000 and 8000 Hz.
|
| Q: |
Do
I need to complete all four series of responses with a child to complete
a screening? |
| A: |
When 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: |
Does
the order of the series matter? |
| A: |
No. As long as the
series for the left ear is different from the series for the right
ear, it is not important which series you choose or in what order.
|
| Q: |
My
school has many Spanish-speaking students; can the Pilot test in Spanish? |
| A: |
Yes. Both English
and Spanish speech recognition tests are present in the unit.
|
| Q: |
When
in Spanish mode, is the picture board the same as in English mode? |
| A: |
No. Two different
picture boards are provided. The spondee words are different when
the language is translated so a Spanish picture board, test card and
score pad are included with the unit. However, the test procedure
is exactly the same in Spanish as it is in English.
|
| Q: |
Does
the Pilot come with a printer? |
| A: |
No. Score pads are
provided with the unit and the operator fills in the grid while observing
the child's response. This copy could then be inserted in the child's
file.
|
| Q: |
Does
the Pilot run on AC or batteries? |
| A: |
The Pilot should
only be used with the supplied AC adapter.
|
| Q: |
Is
the Pilot portable? |
| A: |
Yes. The Pilot comes
with a carrying case that holds the unit and accessories. The system
weighs about 5 lbs.
|
| Q: |
Is
there a warranty? |
| A: |
Yes. It applies
to the original purchaser of the unit for a period of one year from
the date of delivery.
|
| Q: |
What
are the spondee words used when the unit is in Spanish mode? |
| A: |
The following is
the list of spondee words in Spanish mode:
Anillo
Cabeza
Correo
Muneca
Sombrero
Vestido
Dinero
Muchacha
Pollito
Pelota
Estrella
Cordero
|
