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Perkins School for the Blind

Audiologist

Perkins School for the Blind, Watertown, Massachusetts, United States


Perkins helps kids with disabilities find their place in the world. An international NGO, we are committed to delivering best-in-class education to children, providing immersive training and support to professionals and families, advocating for inclusion, and accelerating innovation for people with disabilities. At Perkins, we think courageously, act collaboratively, and we own our work. Join a supportive community committed to growth where your work makes a difference. What you can expect as our Audiologist : As our Audiologist, you will be responsible for serving students, ages 3-22 years, who have impacted vision and hearing, with additional disabilities. You will primarily address the needs of students within the Deafblind School, offering support to students of Lower School and Secondary Schools on an as needed basis. The School Audiologist is responsible for identifying, assessing, and managing hearing-related issues in students. This position is part-time (3 days) with potential to increase based on student need. Essential Duties, Responsibilities and Expectations include the following: Collaborates regularly with educational teams and parents to support students who are Deaf or hard-of-hearing. Conducts hearing screening, provides audiological evaluations, and generates associated written reports. Performing audiological evaluations including the selection, administration, and interpretation of behavioral and physiological tests of auditory threshold sensitivity, which may include pure tone testing, otoacoustic emissions tests, speech detection, speech recognition and middle ear measures. Providing educationally relevant interpretation of audiologic findings Assess students' hearing and communication skills, adjusting intervention strategies as needed to ensure optimal support. Works with teams to complete functional hearing assessments to support programming for students. Assess and recommend appropriate assistive listening devices and technology to enhance students’ learning experiences in the classroom. Applying test results and observations to formulate a plan including written reports with recommendations, selection and fitting of hearing technology, assistive listening devices and educational strategies. Identify the need for amplification and hearing assistance technology including candidacy for personal hearing aids and/or assistive listening devices to support students in their education environments. Program hearing aids and Baha’s. May need to make earmold impressions or send hearing aids or Baha’s out for repair. Update hearing aid software. Evaluate classroom environments for sound quality and acoustics, recommending modifications to reduce background noise and enhance accessibility. Supports the development and implements individualized student plans, offers recommendations for Individualized Education Plan (IEP) accommodations. May be required to provide direct student services, gridded on the IEP, on an as needed basis. Develop and implement transition plans for students moving between grade levels or to post-secondary education, ensuring continued support for their hearing needs. Systematically assess the effectiveness of audiological interventions and support strategies, using data to make informed adjustments and improvements. Attends student team meetings and Individualized Education Plan (IEP) meetings on request. Consult, provide-inservice training, and interpret audiological reports with staff. Provide consultation in regard to the selection, purchase, installation, maintenance, calibration checking and utilization of audiologic equipment. Provide resources and support to families of students with hearing impairments, helping them understand their child’s needs and the available services. Delivers customized training to student teams, equipping them with essential knowledge and effective strategies related to various types of hearing challenges, including sensorineural, conductive, and auditory processing disorders Supervise maintenance and repair of individual hearing aids and audiological equipment. Research available devices, recommend procurement, and instruct students and staff in their use as appropriate. Work within program guidelines for expenditures and maintain appropriate records. Keep accurate and up-to-date records of assessments, interventions, and student progress to comply with legal and educational standards. To be successful, you should have: Knowledge of the theories, principles and practices of audiology, basic clinical audiometry, audiology equipment (audiometer, OAE’s, otoadmittance middle ear analyzer, ABR) and evaluating students with various needs. Strong communication skills and the ability to work collaboratively in a school environment are essential. Organizational and communication skills to assist in maintaining efficiency of the school, including day to day schedule coordination with teachers, provision of unscheduled services to students having urgent needs, support to teachers, equipment calibration; organization of equipment and ordering supplies. The ability to continuously update knowledge of audiology practices, technologies, and educational strategies through professional development and relevant research to enhance service delivery. Engagement in ongoing professional development opportunities, attending workshops and conferences to stay current with advancements in audiology and educational practices. Dedication to acquiring knowledge as it relates to the unique impact of deafblindness on development, including communication and associated behavior. Demonstrated ability in interpersonal communications skills is required. Ability to be flexible and operate independently. Ability to build and nurture effective working relationships. Ability to communicate effectively both orally and written. Ability to maintain confidential information. Ability to work with diverse populations. Ability to interact in a consultative professional manner. Demonstrated strong organizational skills and the ability to perform within precise timelines Ability to prioritize and manage several responsibilities concurrently Education and/or Experience: Masters or Doctorate Degree in Audiology, from a recognized college or university required. Certified or certifiable as an audiologist from the American Speech and Hearing Association (ASHA). Massachusetts Professional Licensure in Audiology Minimum of 3 years professional experience preferred. Experience with individuals who are deafblind and/or have multiple disabilities preferred. Experience using sign language and/or willingness to learn is required