ABSTRACT
Evaluating hearing in a person with an autism spectrum disorder can be a daunting
task for the child, his or her parents, and the audiologist alike. This article, written
from a parent's perspective, outlines features unique to the assessment of hearing
in people who have autism. Practical suggestions for preparing for the assessment
and for obtaining accurate audiometric data are offered. Considerations regarding
unique characteristics of autism spectrum disorders in relation to audiologic evaluation
are reported. The value of the observation of the audiologist and results of the audiologic
evaluation in relation to the diagnosis of autism are discussed. This article also
highlights special considerations related to treatment of hearing loss in relation
to unique features of autism spectrum disorders. The goal is to provide the audiologist
with awareness of the needs of people with autism spectrum disorders and provide preparation
needed to assess hearing with this population.
KEYWORDS
Autism - parents - family - assessment
