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Title / Demonstrate the function and application of hearing instruments and hearing aids
Level / 5 / Credits / 6
Purpose / People credited with this unit standard are able to: explain and match hearing aid, earmoulds, and tubing to the assessed needs of an adult with a hearing impairment; explain the function, and demonstrate the application and maintenance, of hearing aids; and explain the function, and demonstrate the application and maintenance, of a cochlear implant.
Classification / Community Support > Hearing Therapy
Available grade / Achieved
Explanatory notes
1The performance of all elements of this unit standard must comply with any relevant cultural or legislative requirements including the rights and responsibilities of people receiving services or supports as outlined in the Health and Disability Commissioner (Code of Health and Disability Services Consumers’ Rights) Regulations 1996.
2All explanations and demonstrations in this unit standard that refer to the needs of an adult with hearing impairment relate to the assessed communication needs of actual clients, or from scenarios created for the purpose of training and/or assessment.
3Current best practice is documented in the University of Auckland, School of Medicine Master of Audiometry Programme pure-tone audiometry clinical protocols. These are available from Careerforce, PO Box 25-255, Christchurch.
Outcomes and evidence requirements
Outcome 1
Explain and match hearing aids, earmoulds, and tubing to the assessed needs of an adult with a hearing impairment.
Evidence requirements
1.1Hearing aid types are identified and matched to the assessed needs of an adult with hearing impairment.
Rangehearing aid types include but are not limited to – behind the ear (BTE), in the ear (ITE), completely in the canal (CIC), body aid, bone-anchored hearing aid (BAHA).
1.2The application of hearing aids is explained in terms of the assessed needs of an adult with hearing impairment.
Rangeassessed needs may include but are not limited to – level of hearing loss, physical dexterity, sensory ability, personal choice.
1.3Earmoulds and tubing are identified and matched to the assessed needs of an adult with hearing impairment.
Rangeearmoulds and tubing include but are not limited to – skeletal, full-concha, half-concha, hard acrylic, soft acrylic, non-allergenic, Libbyhorn, locked tubing, pre-bent tubing, hard wall tubing, moisture-proof tubing, tubing of differing dimensions.
1.4The application of earmoulds and tubing is explained in terms of the assessed needs of an adult with hearing impairment.
Rangeassessed needs may include but are not limited to – level of hearing loss, sensory ability.
Outcome 2
Explain the function, and demonstrate the application and maintenance, of hearing aids.
RangeBTE, ITE, CIC, body aid, BAHA.
Evidence requirements
2.1Hearing aid parts are identified and explained in terms of their function.
Rangehearing aid parts may include but are not limited to – on-off, receiver, volume control, battery compartment, microphone, Direct Audio Input socket (DAI), audio-shoe, tone-hook, telecoil, earmould, tubing, FM input, remote controls.
2.2Operation of the hearing aid demonstrates its correct functioning in accordance with current best practice.
Rangeoperation may include but is not limited to – insertion and removal of earmould, insertion and removal of hearing aid, use of controls, battery insertion, battery removal.
2.3Demonstration of maintenance routine ensures the correct functioning of the hearing aid in accordance with current best practice.
Rangemaintenance routine may include but is not limited to – cleaning, wax removal, moisture removal, battery testing.
2.4Demonstration of troubleshooting routines and minor repairs ensures correct functioning of the aid in accordance with current best practice.
Rangetroubleshooting routines and minor repairs may include but are not limited to – wax filters, acoustic feedback, damaged earmould, ill-fitting earmoulds, re-tubing, battery door replacement, battery jam, tone hook, microphone, audio shoe.
Outcome 3
Explain the function, and demonstrate the application and maintenance, of a cochlear implant.
Rangebehind the ear, body worn.
Evidence requirements
3.1Cochlear implant parts are identified and explained in terms of their function.
Rangecochlear implant parts include but are not limited to – electrode array, stimulus-plate, magnet, transmitter coil, microphone, on-off, sensitivity control, battery compartment, cables.
3.2Cochlear implant types are identified and matched with the assessed needs of an adult with a hearing impairment.
Rangeassessed needs may include but are not limited to – level of hearing loss, physical dexterity, sensory ability, personal choice.
3.3Cochlear implant accessories are identified and explained in terms of their function.
Rangecochlear implant accessories may include but are not limited to – alerting devices, personal communication systems, public communication systems, telephone devices;
evidence of two accessories is required.
3.4Demonstration of trouble-shooting routine ensures correct functioning of the speech processor and accords with manufacturer’s instructions.
Rangetrouble-shooting routine may include but is not limited to – flat batteries, broken cable, faulty microphone, faulty processor.
This unit standard is expiring. Assessment against the standard must take place by the last date for assessment set out below.
Status information and last date for assessment for superseded versions
Process / Version / Date / Last Date for AssessmentRegistration / 1 / 19 April 2002 / 31 December 2019
Review / 2 / 20 May 2008 / 31 December 2019
Review / 3 / 20 April 2017 / 31 December 2019
Consent and Moderation Requirements (CMR) reference / 0024
This CMR can be accessed at http://www.nzqa.govt.nz/framework/search/index.do.
Please note
Providers must be granted consent to assess against standards (accredited) by NZQA, before they can report credits from assessment against unit standards or deliver courses of study leading to that assessment.
Industry Training Organisations must be granted consent to assess against standards by NZQA before they can register credits from assessment against unit standards.
Providers and Industry Training Organisations, which have been granted consent and which are assessing against unit standards must engage with the moderation system that applies to those standards.
Requirements for consent to assess and an outline of the moderation system that applies to this standard are outlined in the Consent and Moderation Requirements (CMR). The CMR also includes useful information about special requirements for organisations wishing to develop education and training programmes, such as minimum qualifications for tutors and assessors, and special resource requirements.
Community Support Services Industry Training Organisation LimitedSSB Code 101814 / New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2019 / / New Zealand Qualifications Aut