Practice Standards & Resources

Collaboration & Team Roles

Defining who does what across the team that supports D/HH students — educational audiologists, clinical audiologists, ToDHHs, SLPs, and school staff.

Three Resources to Look at First

Position Statement

EdAuD & Clinical Audiologist Roles

EAA's official guidance on the shared and distinct roles of educational vs. clinical audiologists.

EdAuD, TODHH & SLP Roles

Shared roles among educational audiologists, teachers of the deaf and hard of hearing, and speech-language pathologists.

ASHA Practice Portal: Hearing Loss in Children

ASHA's page on hearing loss in children, reviewing assessment, intervention, team roles, and resources.

Key Points at a Glance

Different Lenses, Same Student

Each professional brings a distinct expertise; none of them sees the whole picture alone.

Clinical and Educational Are Complementary

Diagnostic care and classroom access are different jobs that succeed when coordinated.

ToDHHs and SLPs Are Critical Partners

Language access, communication strategies, and instruction are joint work.

Communication Is the Glue

Shared notes, regular check-ins, and clear handoffs prevent gaps.

EAA Position Statements and Standards

POSITION STATEMENT

Shared Roles of EdAuDs and Clinical Audiologists

Where the roles overlap, where they don't, and how to coordinate.

POSITION STATEMENT

Shared Roles of EdAuDs, ToDHHs, and SLPs

A team-of-three view: hearing access, language access, and communication.

EAA Practical Tools & Resources

INFOGRAPHIC

A Team Approach to Hearing Assistive Technology

Team roles, processes, and red flags for HAT in schools.

Foundational Reference

Educational Audiology Handbook

Johnson & Seaton · Plural Publishing — the comprehensive reference for school-based audiology practice. The foundational text behind nearly every topic on this page.

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Forms & Appendices for This Topic

Customizable forms, protocols, and checklists from the Handbook. See the textbook for full content.

Chapter 9 — Habilitation (Collaboration Forms)

Appendix 9–A — Form to Facilitate Collaboration Between Teacher / School Provider and Physician
Appendix 9–B — Implant Center / School / Therapist / Parent Information Exchange Form
Appendix 9–Q — In-Service Evaluation Form

EAA Research & Evidence

No JEPRA articles curated for this topic yet!

External Resources

External links are informational and not endorsements.

EXTERNAL · ASHA

Hearing Loss in Children — Practice Portal

ASHA's comprehensive resource on screening, assessment, intervention, and team roles.

EXTERNAL · AOTB

Clinical vs. Educational Audiologists

A side-by-side comparison of the two roles in practice.

EXTERNAL · SUPPORTING SUCCESS

Supporting Success for Children with Hearing Loss

Karen Anderson's repository of practical materials shared across EdAuDs, ToDHHs, SLPs, and educators.

Stronger Together

When educational audiologists, clinical audiologists, ToDHHs, SLPs, and school staff understand each other's roles, students get coordinated, comprehensive support.

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Members-Only Discussion

In the EAA Community

EAA members are talking about team collaboration on the listserv. Recent threads include:

Professional development and networking: APD symposium, EdAuD 101 sessions, regional meetings
Classroom captioning resources
Hearing technology across populations

APD assessment and functional accommodations by all staff
Auditory (re)habilitation and auditory verbal therapy
Family and educator resources

Frequently Asked Questions

How do clinical and educational audiologists coordinate?

With permission, by sharing relevant clinical findings and classroom observations. The clinical audiologist owns diagnostic care; the educational audiologist owns school-based access.

What's the SLP's role for D/HH students?

SLPs work on language, articulation, and communication strategies. Coordination with the EdAuD ensures the listening environment matches the speech-language plan.

When should a ToDHH be involved?

For students with significant hearing difference impacting language and academics. ToDHHs provide direct instruction and consultation on access methods.

How can I improve team communication?

Standing meeting times, shared documentation systems, and a single point person for student updates dramatically reduce gaps and duplication.

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