Help Us Help Them
The Idaho State University Hearing Clinic evaluates over 350 pediatric patients a year and we have educated the majority of audiologists in the state of Idaho. We are raising money to fund the purchase of new visual reinforced audiometry systems. Visually reinforced audiometry (VRA) is a technique used to test the hearing of children 6 months to 30 months of age. A child in this age range cannot raise his or her hand when he or she hears the stimulus but the child can be trained to look for an engaging or interesting toy when a sound is heard. The ISU Clinic evaluates many patients in this age range and our students must learn this technique to be successful in their education and to provide quality care for their future patients. It is a challenging technique and one that takes practice. Our equipment is dated and inefficient. If you attended ISU for your own audiology training you might remember “the scary monkey”. He is still there! He is tired and needs to retire. Please help us update our testing equipment. Our patients and students will both benefit if a new and more interesting reinforcement system is funded through generous donations.
New equipment for testing pediatric hearing
Donations will be used to purchase cutting edge visual reinforcement systems for the three pediatric booths. The animated light up boxes will feature more interesting and visually pleasing toys. The toys will be controlled by updated and wireless boxes that will help create a more pleasing and less distracting testing environment. Our patients and students will both benefit when a new and more interesting reinforcement system is funded through generous donations.
Support our Hearing Clinic VRA Project
In a time when we are conscious of where our money goes and how it is spent, we thank you for supporting Idaho State University Audiology and Hearing Clinic VRA Project. Your financial support will continue to further the education of Doctor of audiology students and help provide an updated pediatric testing environment.
Why do we need to replace this equipment?
Children who need to have their hearing tested tend to lose interest quickly or are frightened by our outdated reinforcers. We need to update this VRA system so we can better treat the children in our clinics, and so that our students have the opportunity to train with the best equipment available.