Enhancing Adult Hearing Screening Skills for Speech-Language Pathology Students Through Simulation

Purpose: This study evaluated student performance and perception of a simulated hearing screening utilizing an adult standardized patient (SP). It explored the relationship between student performance and student perception of the simulation. Method: Sixty-nine first-year speech pathology graduate students completed a high-fidelity simulation to demonstrate competency in hearing screening administration with an adult SP. Student performance was assessed by supervising educators through standardized rubrics in the following domains: (a) explaining the task, (b) following the university screening protocol, (c) demonstrating clinical and critical thinking, and (d) using the audiometer efficiently. Students also completed surveys to provide feedback regarding their simulation experience. Results: The median rating for student performance across the four domains evaluated was determined using nonparametric tests, while a one-sample t test was used to determine average ratings. Additionally, central tendency and dispersion measures were computed using rubric ratings of students' performance in each domain evaluated. Overall, students performed well in this simulation, with nearly all students demonstrating competency in explaining the task and demonstrating clinical/critical thinking. Following the screening protocol and using the audiometer efficiently showed the most room for improvement. Student survey responses generally indicated that this was a positive and beneficial learning experience and provided constructive feedback for future iterations of this simulation. Conclusions: Hearing screening simulations effectively train graduate speech-language pathology students in the necessary skills. Student perceptions of this simulation were resoundingly positive.