Audiology Program

Kennedy Krieger Institute • 1750 East Fairmount Ave. • Baltimore, MD 21231

Director:

Joseph P. Pillion, PhD

About Our Program:

Kennedy Krieger's Audiology Program offers comprehensive audiological and hearing aid evaluations, auditory processing evaluation testing, aural rehabilitation, measurement of otoacoustic emissions and auditory electrophysiological testing (ABR, BAER, frequency-specific ABR, bone conduction ABR and ASSR). All staff have special expertise in treating multiply-handicapped infants and children as well as normally developing infants and young children with speech and language delays. The clinic provides hearing aid dispensary services to provide conventional, programmable and digital hearing aids. In conjunction with Johns Hopkins Hospital Department of Otolaryngology, the clinic also offers otolaryngological services.

Primary Program Goals:

To identify and manage communicatively handicapping hearing impairment in infants and children; to rule out hearing loss as a factor contributing to speech/language and developmental delays.

Interesting Trends:

In the past year, there has been an increase in the number of referrals for central auditory processing evaluation as well as in the number of very young infants receiving hearing aids.

Success Story:

Dante was nearly five years old and saying only a few words when an audiological evaluation revealed the presence of a moderate to severe hearing impairment of predominantly conductive origin. He had been enrolled in an early intervention special education program in the Baltimore City Public Schools (BCPS) for two years. He was referred for otolaryngological management. The ear, nose and throat doctor diagnosed middle ear fluid bilaterally and recommended that Dante receive pressure/equalization tubes (P/E). He received P/E tubes and returned for a follow up audiological evaluation which revealed much better hearing—in the borderline normal to slight hearing loss range for one ear and the mild to moderate range for the other ear. A hearing aid was recommended and pre-authorization obtained through the Maryland Medical Assistance Hearing Aid Program. An FM system was provided for Dante's use at school. After about 6 months of hearing aid use accompanied by speech language pathologist services in the BCPS, Dante is now enrolled in a regular classroom and speaking in full sentences.

Research Areas:

• Hearing loss and auditory processing in neurodegenerative and neurodevelopmental disorders
• Audiological assessment utilizing ABR and OAE's
• Development of auditory attention

Hours of Operation:

Monday - Friday: 8:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Contacts:

To make a referral or request an initial evaluation:
Contact our Care Management Office
Toll-Free Referral: (888) 554-2080
Local Referral: (443) 923-9400

For follow-up appointments:

Roberta Mason
Program Coordinator
Phone: (443) 923-3220
mason@kennedykrieger.org

Joseph P. Pillion, PhD, CCC-A
Director of Audiology
Phone: (443) 923-3220
pillion@kennedykrieger.org

Amy Gaskin, AuD, CCC-A, AuD
Audiologist
Phone: (443) 923-3220
gaskin@kennedykrieger.org

Dorothy Shiffler, AuD, CCC-A, AuD
Audiologist
Phone: (443) 923-3220
shiffler@kennedykrieger.org