About the Audiology Department
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Special School District Audiology services are available to all children from early childhood to graduation who are residents of St. Louis County. Special School District's Audiologists are state-licensed and hold a Certificate of Clinical Competence in Audiology, as governed by the American Speech-Language & Hearing Association (ASHA).
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SSD Audiology Services
Hearing screenings and evaluations are provided for children from early childhood to graduation. Testing procedures are determined by the student's age and needs. Tests could include:
Hearing Evaluations
- Otoacoustic Emissions (OAEs): A probe in the ear canal delivers auditory stimuli. The response is measured by a microphone in the probe tip, recording sounds made from outer hair cells in the cochlea.
- Pure Tone Air & Bone Conduction Threshold Tests: Tones of various pitches are presented to determine the softest audible levels for each ear.
- Speech Detection/Reception Threshold Tests: Spondee words are presented to determine how softly speech can be heard in each ear.
- Speech Discrimination Tests: Words are presented from a standardized list to determine how clearly speech can be heard in each ear.
Middle Ear Analysis
- Tympanometry and reflex testing determine the function of the middle ear mechanism.
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Amplification Assessments
These services include one or more of the following: hearing aids, cochlear implants, bone conduction devices, and assistive listening devices.
Amplification Recommendations
- Made by SSD Audiologists who are current on research trends and emerging technologies.
- Made based on the student’s hearing loss, hearing needs and available technologies.
Behavioral Assessments
- Aided Sound Field testing procedures verify real-world benefits received from the amplification devices.
- This testing also helps determine hearing aids, assistive listening devices, and other hearing technology advantages for each student.
Objective Assessments
- Electroacoustic Analysis of hearing aids and assistive listening devices determines how well the device is functioning.
- Real Ear Measurements verify the amplification is appropriate for the student, based on specific targets and hearing levels.
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Audiology Device Services
Hearing evaluations, hearing aid/cochlear implant, and assistive listening device (ALD) evaluations
- We follow best practices, which indicate an annual ALD evaluation with SSD to ensure proper function and to document the benefit
- An evaluation must be performed at our audiology office any time your child changes devices (processor upgrade/new hearing aids)
Loaner equipment
- If your child’s hearing aid is not working, we are usually able to provide a loaner (if we have a current hearing test) while their personal aid is being repaired. It may not be the same as your child’s aid, but will be an aid appropriate for their hearing loss.
- If your child’s hearing aid is lost, we can only provide a loaner if you have an earmold
- We have limited cochlear implant parts. It is very important that you work with your programming audiologist to make sure you have the backup parts needed for your child’s processors. We cannot guarantee we will have back up parts compatible with your child’s equipment.
- Loaner equipment is meant to be a temporary solution
Repairs
- In-office repairs (earmold tubing, battery door replacements, etc)
- We can send hearing aids out for repair if they are in warranty
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Mainting A Relationship With An Outside Audiology Center
- We are unable to see students when school is not in session (i.e. summer and winter breaks).
- We do not work with insurance, nor can we accept payment for services such as new hearing aids, out of warranty repairs, batteries, or other accessories.
- We do not program cochlear implants in the educational setting.
- Please let us know if you need a list of area pediatric audiology centers.
- If you provide a signed release annually, we are happy to collaborate with your child’s clinical audiologist to ensure your child’s hearing needs are being met.
- If you do not have insurance coverage and the cost of hearing aids, earmolds, or repairs would create a hardship, please contact your SSD audiologist so we can help find alternate funding sources.
Key Contacts
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Ben Gleason
Area Coordinator
314.989.8298
bagleason@ssdmo.org
Nicole Adams
Secretary
314.989.8874
neadams@ssdmo.org
For appointments, please call:
314.989.8875
neadams@ssdmo.orgGeneral Audiology Inquiries:
Locations
Litzsinger School
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2350 South Lindbergh Blvd.
St. Louis, MO 63131
Phone: 314.989.8875
Ladue Early Childhood
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10890 Ladue Rd.
St. Louis, MO, 63141
Phone: 314.989.8875
SSD Learning Center
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900 Hornet Drive
Hazelwood, MO 63042
Phone: 314.989.8875
Outside of SSD
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Area Pediatric Audiology Centers
SSM Health Cardinal Glennon Children's Hospital
1465 S. Grand Boulevard
St. Louis, MO 63104
314.577.5671Center for Hearing & Speech
9835 Manchester Rd.
St. Louis, MO 63119
314.968.4710Central Institute for the Deaf (CID)
825 S Taylor Avenue
St. Louis, MO, 63110
314.977.0132Mercy Audiology
615 South New Ballas Rd.
St. Louis, MO 63141
314.251.5850Sound Health Hearing Care
Multiple offices. Verify that the location you have selected tests children when scheduling an appointment online.
St. Louis Children's Hospital
1 Children's Place
St. Louis, MO 63110
314.454.617113001 North Outer Forty
Town and Country, MO 63017
314.454.6171The Moog Center for Deaf Education
12300 South Forty Drive
St. Louis, MO 63141
314.692.7172Area Adult Audiology Centers
Center for Hearing & Speech
9835 Manchester Rd.
St. Louis, MO 63119
314.968.4710Hearing Health Care
15825 Manchester Rd.
Suite 209
Ellisville, MO 63011
636.391.9622Mercy Medical Center Audiology
615 South New Ballas Rd.
St. Louis, MO 63141
314.251.5850Sound Health Hearing Care
607 S. New Ballas Rd.
Suite 2300
St. Louis, MO 63141
314-251-6394St. Louis University (SLU Care)
Several area locations. For all office locations, call: 314.977.4440
St. Louis University Speech-Language-Hearing Clinic
3750 Lindell Blvd.
St. Louis, MO 63108
314.977.3365Washington University
Several area locations
- Center for Advanced Medicine
- Central Institute for the Deaf
- West County
For all office locations call: 800.437.5430
Our Audiologists
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Chrissy Allen
Ladue Early Childhood
314.989.8811
cwallen@ssdmo.org
Lauren McCoole
Ladue Early Childhood
314.989.8877
lnmccoole@ssdmo.org
Tara Battles
Litzsinger
314.989.8856
tjbattles@ssdmo.org
Mary Rice
Litzsinger
314.989.8855
merice@ssdmo.org
Elizabeth Suba
Learning Center
314.989.7184
easuba@ssdmo.org
Madison Varble
Learning Center
314.989.7182
mvarble@ssdmo.org
SSD's audiologists are state licensed and hold a Certificate of Clinical Competence in Audiology, as governed by the American Speech-Language & Hearing Association (ASHA).