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Page 1: nternational earing ociety’s Certificate Program · 2020. 5. 1. · We wish you the very best in your journey to help your patients ... • Distinguish between evidence-based and

International Hearing Society’s

Certificate Program

Assessment Guide

©2019 v1 by the International Hearing Society, All rights reserved. No part of this document may be duplicated or transmitted without permission.

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IHS © 2020 V1 2

Dear Candidate,

Welcome to the Tinnitus Care Provider Certificate Program. The purpose of this Assessment

Guide is to help you prepare for the Tinnitus Care Provider Assessment. It contains important

information related to the administration of the assessment. This is an end-of-program

assessment to confirm participants’ accomplishment of the intended learning outcomes.

Please read the Assessment Guide carefully, follow the instructions given, and understand what

to expect before, during, and after the assessment.

To give you a brief overview, the assessment is comprised of one hundred and five (105)

multiple-choice questions. Dichotomous scoring is used for grading the assessment, which

means the answer options are either right or wrong. You will earn one (1) point for right

answers and earn zero (0) points for wrong answers. Please note that there are a few questions

on the assessment that request selection of multiple correct responses. For example, if the

question asks, “Which two,” you must select the two (2) correct answer options in order to earn

(1) one point for that question.

The Assessment must be taken within 30 days following the workshop. For more information,

please continue reading this Assessment Guide.

Should you require accommodations for the assessment or have any questions, please contact the

International Hearing Society at [email protected]. We wish you the very best in your

journey to help your patients/clients with tinnitus.

Sincerely,

International Hearing Society

International Hearing Society

16880 Middlebelt Road, Suite 4 Livonia, MI 48154

Phone 734.522.7200 Fax 734.522.0200 www.ihsinfo.org

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Table of Contents Welcome Letter…...……………………………………………………………………………………………………………….2

Table of Contents……………………………………………………………………………………………………….………….3

Introduction……………………………………………………………………………………….…………………………………4 About the International Hearing Society (IHS) About the Tinnitus Care Provider Assessment Description of a Successful Candidate Assessment Composition Assessment Objectives Preparing for the Assessment Reference Material

Before the Assessment…………………...……………………………………………………………………………....……10 Non-Discrimination Accommodation Request Creating a Test-Taker Account Scheduling an Assessment Appointment Rescheduling an Appointment Cancellations No-Shows

Taking the Assessment……………...………………………………………………………….………………………………21 Identification and Authorization Code Taking the Assessment Test Aids Assessment Security No-Shows

After the Assessment…………………………………………………………………………………………………….……..24 Standard Setting Assessment Scoring Results Re-Takes Score Reporting

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Introduction

About the International Hearing Society (IHS) The International Hearing Society (IHS) is a membership association that represents hearing healthcare professionals worldwide. IHS members are engaged in the practice of testing human hearing and selecting, fitting and dispensing hearing instruments and counseling patients. Founded in 1951, the Society continues to recognize the need for promoting and maintaining the highest possible standards for its members in the best interests of the hearing impaired it serves. International Hearing Society 16880 Middlebelt Road, Suite 4 Livonia, MI 48154 Phone 734.522.7200 Fax 734.522.0200 www.ihsinfo.org

Like us on Facebook©

facebook.com/ihsinfo Follow us on Twitter© 3 @ihsinfo

About the Tinnitus Care Provider Assessment

The Tinnitus Care Provider Assessment is a proprietary assessment which is owned and copyrighted by the International Hearing Society. The Assessment is used to evaluate mastery of the intended learning outcomes of the Tinnitus Care Provider course; it is linked directly to the learning event and the knowledge, skills, and competencies learned. As such, the Assessment must be taken within 30 days following the workshop. The assessment is practice-based, meaning that you will be expected to understand and apply, analyze, and evaluate experiences and information in ways similar to those employed in a professional work environment. You will be required to:

• Transfer knowledge

• Show comprehension of material and processes

• Demonstrate standard processes

• Explain concepts or ideas

• Determine an answer based on your ability to implement a process or steps of a process, make something function, or change a working system

• Critically think and demonstrate reasoning ability

• Integrate new or given information with known information or processes

• Make decisions or provide judgments Each assessment question will provide a scenario or information to consider and apply knowledge of processes, relationships, etc., to solve a problem or devise a solution in the given situation. Assessment questions are drawn from, and referenced to, the recommended reference materials in this guide.

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The examination was developed by professionals in the field of hearing instrument sciences. These individuals volunteered their time and expertise to this project under the guidance of a test development and psychometric services company. A validity-centered approach was taken to exam development, utilizing accepted best practices within the professional testing community. Specifically, the process included: program design and development of a validation framework; blueprint development; item writing and review; pilot/beta form assembly; initial item analysis and selection; operational form assembly; and standard setting. On an ongoing basis, examination maintenance is performed which includes test analysis and pilot testing implementation and maintenance. Passing of the assessment indicates that the candidate has attained the intended learning objectives to earn the Tinnitus Care Provider Certificate. The table below shows the percentage of assessment takers who have passed the assessment, per year.

Cohort % of Exam Takers who Passed Within 2

Attempts

2016 81%

2017 84%

2018 90%

2019 90%

Description of a successful Tinnitus Care Provider holding a certificate from the International Hearing Society The assessment is designed to differentiate between candidates who do and who do not possess the knowledge required to be considered minimally-qualified. The minimally-qualified candidate must be able to:

• Demonstrate knowledge of epidemiology

• Identify causes and common difficulties of tinnitus

• Define tinnitus-specific terminology

• Distinguish between evidence-based and non-evidence based treatments available to consumers

• Recognize emotional and physiological challenges requiring referrals and identify professionals to provide these services

• Provide tinnitus counselling that is beneficial to the patient/client

• Define types and rationale of tinnitus products on the market

• Provide Tinnitus Activities Therapy (Tyler, 2006)

• Fit hearing instruments and maskers

• Perform tinnitus testing

• Identify the eight red flags requiring medical clearance and make referral when necessary

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Assessment Composition This assessment was developed by practicing professionals in the field of hearing instrument sciences. These individuals volunteered their time and expertise to this project under the guidance of a test development and psychometric services company. During the development stages of this assessment, testing objectives were derived from the course learning objectives and the assessment blueprint was developed. The assessment consists of one hundred and five (105) multiple-choice questions (also known as “items”). Questions from each testing area are included on the assessment. Please refer to the assessment objectives included in this study guide.

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Assessment Objectives

Section 1: Physiology

Objective 1.1: Identify the common causes and mechanisms of tinnitus

• Describe the spontaneous activity in the hearing nerve in the absence of acoustic stimulation

• Identify the neural mechanisms that might be responsible for tinnitus

• Describe the regions of the brain that are responsible/active when patients/clients experience strong negative emotions

• Identify why it is important to a patient/client to identify a probable cause of tinnitus

• Identify potential benefits to the patient/client of knowing a probable cause of tinnitus

Objective 1.2: Explain the relationships between hearing loss and tinnitus

• Describe the relationship between the hearing loss threshold of a tinnitus patient/client and their tinnitus (e.g., severity, pitch)

• Explain how treating hearing loss may mitigate some effects of tinnitus

• Describe why a patient/client with hearing loss could hear sounds that are not being generated in the environment (i.e., tinnitus)

• Describe why a tinnitus patient/client may have difficulty understanding normal speech

Section 2: Psychology

Objective 2.1: Describe the impacts tinnitus can have on patients’ lives

• Identify that tinnitus may disrupt sleep cycle

• Identify that tinnitus may disrupt concentration abilities

• Outline the tinnitus patient's emotional cycle

• Identify that tinnitus may impact hearing capabilities

Section 3: Measurement

Objective 3.1: Explain the measurement and evaluation of tinnitus

• Identify red flags that require referral to a physician

• Describe how to measure tinnitus loudness

• Describe how to measure tinnitus pitch

• Define how the measurement of tinnitus can assist with counseling

• Define how the measurement of tinnitus can assist with the fitting of sound therapy devices

Section 4: Management

Objectives 4.1: Explain the counseling techniques and approaches used to treat tinnitus

• Provide a basic description of the mechanisms and causes of tinnitus

• Explain how the presence of hyperacusis might impact the treatment of tinnitus

• Detail the physical and emotional impact tinnitus may have on a patient/client and why it happens

• Describe sleep habit modifications or rituals that may help the patient/client

• Explain concentration and relaxation techniques that may help the patient/client

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• Explain aural rehabilitation techniques that may improve hearing capabilities for a patient/client

• Explain how to evaluate patient’s/clients’ tolerance to therapy (e.g., hearing aid amplification, non-wearable noisemakers, etc.)

Objectives 4.2: Give examples of how hearing instruments may help mitigate some of the adverse

impacts of tinnitus

• Describe how reduced speech understanding may also reduce the amount of normal background sounds heard in the environment thus increasing awareness of the tinnitus

• Describe how reduced speech understanding may also reduce the amount of normal background sounds heard in the environment

• Describe how use of hearing aid amplification may make speech easier to understand

• Describe how use of hearing instrument amplification of environmental background sounds may mitigate the awareness of tinnitus

Objectives 4.3: Explain how an intervention with background noise and/or sound therapy devices

can help a patient with tinnitus

• Explain why a person with tinnitus may benefit from obtaining hearing instruments with tinnitus sound stimulus

• Explain why a person with tinnitus might benefit from background sound

• Describe the kinds of sound therapy available in wearable and non-wearable devices

• Explain how to evaluate patients’/clients’ tolerance to therapy (e.g., hearing aid amplification, non-wearable noisemakers, etc.)

Section 5: Practice Organization

Objectives 5.1: Describe how to implement tinnitus treatment as part of a practice

• Explain what knowledge and skills are essential for a provider to work with tinnitus patients

• Describe the supporting literature and resources that should be available in an office for patients with tinnitus

• Explain when an outside referral to another hearing healthcare provider is necessary

• Identify other professionals (e.g., psychiatrist, psychologist) that may be helpful for tinnitus patients

• Provide a comprehensive tinnitus evaluation protocol

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Preparing for the Assessment Assessment questions will change over time. All assessment questions have been evaluated for appropriateness. It is highly suggested that you make sure you have completed all the pre-learning activities before taking the assessment. The reading materials and notes from your participant guide used during the workshop are an excellent source of information for candidates to study and prepare for this assessment. The Assessment must be taken within 30 days following the workshop.

Reference Material

This assessment is “practice-based,” meaning that you will be expected to understand and apply the information from the workshop and given reference materials. Participant Guide During the workshop you received the Participant Guide, a binder for note-taking. This is an excellent resource to review before the assessment. Articles Articles are available to download from the candidate-only website at www.ihsinfo.org/tinnitusprep (Access Code: tinnituscare1).

• Tyler, R.S., Chang, S., Gehringer, A. & Gogel, S. (2008). Tinnitus: How you can help yourself! Audiological Medicine, 6(1), 85-91.

• Tyler, R.S., Haskell, G.B., Gogel, S.A., & Gehringer, A.K. (2008). Establishing a Tinnitus clinic in your practice. American Journal of Audiology, 17, 25-37.

Textbook

All candidates received this textbook as part of the welcome package shipped to your address submitted during registration process.

• Tyler, R.S. (Ed). (2006). Tinnitus Treatment: Clinical Protocols. New York: Thieme.

Note: The articles are for paid registrants only and are not to be disseminated without permission.

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Before the Assessment

Non-Discrimination

No candidate shall be denied the ability to sit for the program or assessment because of age, sex/gender, gender identification, sexual preferences, marital status, religious preference, national origin, race, creed, color, or physical disability.

Accommodations Request

IHS is committed to complying with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (“ADA”). To request accommodations, a candidate may contact IHS to obtain a “Candidate Accommodation Request Form.” A candidate must submit the complete request form along with the required supporting documentation prior to scheduling an assessment appointment. IHS will conduct an individualized assessment of each request for accommodations based upon the documentation submitted by the candidate in accordance with the Candidate Accommodation Request Form requirements. The accommodation assessment period is up to sixty (60) days. IHS will then notify the candidate whether their accommodation request has been approved or denied. If approved, IHS will assist the candidate in scheduling the assessment appointment. Under the ADA, IHS is not required to provide accommodations that would fundamentally alter what the assessment is intended to test, jeopardize assessment security, or result in an undue burden. To download a Candidate Accommodation Request Form, please visit the “Tinnitus Assessment” page at www.webassessor.com/ihs.

Creating a Test-Taker Account

The International Hearing Society (IHS) is the administrator of the Tinnitus Care Provider Assessment. Kryterion is the delivery service provider. Webassessor is the online system that you will access to schedule your assessment appointment. The International Hearing Society determines candidate eligibility to take the assessment. Following IHS’s determination of the candidate’s eligibility, the candidate will receive an email message from IHS with instructions on creating a Webassessor test-taker account, which enables the candidate to schedule and pay for their assessment appointment. Also attached to this introduction email message is this Assessment Guide.

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AFTER becoming eligible and receiving the instruction email message from IHS… Follow these simple steps to create an account:

1. Access the Webassessor system at www.webassessor.com/ihs.

2. Create an account by clicking the “Create New Account” link in the upper right-hand corner of the web page and completing the online form.

www.webassessor.com/ihs

After the candidate creates their test-taker account, the candidate will receive a “Welcome to Webassessor” email message containing their personal login. It is important to note that the candidate’s test-taker account must be verified by IHS before the candidate may schedule an assessment appointment. This is to ensure that only those individuals who have participated in the workshop can take the assessment. The verification period is approximately 3 business days (72 hours) from the time the candidate creates their test-taker account in Webassessor. IHS will verify that the pre-requisites have been met in order to proceed. 72 hours (3 business days) after the account is created, the candidate may login to schedule an assessment appointment (NOTE: The candidate will NOT receive another notification to do so). Instructions for scheduling the appointment follow in this Guide.

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Scheduling an Assessment Appointment

Following the candidate’s creation of their test-taker account, and the seventy-two (72) hour verification period, the candidate may login to their Webassessor account to schedule an assessment appointment. The candidate will select a testing center, and an assessment date and time. Upon check-out, the candidate must pay the assessment fee of $300.00 (USD), plus applicable taxes. The assessment fee of $300.00 (USD), plus applicable taxes, must be paid each time a candidate schedules an appointment to take the assessment, including re-takes. The fee is paid at the time of scheduling by any major credit card. The charge will appear as “KRYTERION*TESTASSESMNT” on your credit card statement. The candidate will receive an individual “Authorization Code” in an email message after scheduling the assessment on Webassessor. Follow these simple steps to schedule an assessment appointment:

1. LOGIN: After the seventy-two (72) hour verification period, candidate logs into their account at www.webassessor.com/ihs to schedule the assessment.

For Technical Assistance with Webassessor or the Testing Centers Network, contact:

Kryterion, Inc. 800.403.6199

[email protected]

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SCHEDULE AN ASSESSMENT: Candidate clicks on “Schedule An Exam” tab at the top of the screen.

Choose the Tinnitus Care Provider Certificate Assessment by clicking on the “Add to Cart” button on the

right-hand side.

2. SELECT A TESTING CENTER: Candidate chooses the Province/State from the dropdown menu.

Then clicks on the “Search” button. A list of testing centers will appear.

Please note: You may choose to take the assessment at the testing center that is most convenient for you,

regardless of location.

NOTE, IF DESIRED

LOCATIONS ARE

NOT AVAILABLE,

EXPAND THE SEARCH

BY USING THE POSTAL

CODE OR OTHER

PARAMETERS FOR

FINDING TESTING

CENTERS.

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3. CHOOSE A DATE AND TIME: Based on the chosen testing center, a calendar of availability will display. This is the real-time availability of that particular testing center. Only the days and times that the chosen testing center is open/available are shown. The candidate clicks on the desired day and time(NOTE: The Assessment must be taken within 30 days following the workshop). The candidate must agree to the acknowledgement at the bottom of the screen. Then, click “Select”.

Please note: If the displayed dates and times are not convenient for you, you may search the availability of a

different testing center. Click the back arrow to return to the previous screen.

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4. CONFIRM EXAM DETAILS: The candidate will see their exam details on the screen, and should

confirm the information is correct. Then, click “Check Out.”

5. PAY FOR THE ASSESSMENT: At check-out, the candidate will pay for the assessment. The fee

for the assessment is $300.00 (USD) per assessment, plus applicable taxes. A candidate is not

scheduled to take the assessment until they check out and submit payment.

The assessment fee of $300.00 (USD), plus applicable taxes, must be paid each time a candidate schedules an appointment to take the assessment, including re-takes. The fee is paid at the time of scheduling by any major credit card. The charge will appear as “KRYTERION*TESTASSESMNT” on the credit card statement.

For Technical Assistance with Webassessor or the Testing Centers Network, contact:

Kryterion, Inc. 800.403.6199

[email protected]

USD 300.00

USD 300.00

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Rescheduling an Assessment Appointment

Please note the following parameters regarding rescheduling an assessment:

• A candidate may reschedule their assessment appointment more than 72 hours (exactly) before the appointment time at no charge.

• A candidate may reschedule their assessment appointment 1 to 3 days (24-72 hours) before the appointment time by submitting an additional $75.00 (USD) rescheduling fee.

• A candidate may not reschedule their assessment appointment on the assessment date (within 24 hours of the appointment time). This is considered a no-show, and the candidate forfeits their assessment fee.

Follow these steps to reschedule an assessment appointment:

1. Login to Webassessor. 2. Click “My Assessments.” 3. Click “Reschedule/Cancel.”

4. Click the Reschedule button in the lower right corner.

Tinnitus Care

Provider Assessment

Tinnitus Care Provider Assessment

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5. SELECT A TESTING CENTER: Candidate chooses the Province/State from the dropdown menu. Then clicks on the “Search” button. A list of testing centers will appear.

6. CHOOSE A DATE AND TIME: Based on the chosen testing center, a calendar of availability will display. This is the real-time availability of that particular testing center. Only the days and times that the chosen testing center is open/available are shown. The candidate clicks on the desired day and time. The candidate must agree to the acknowledgement at the bottom of the screen. Then, click “Select”.

NOTE, IF DESIRED

LOCATIONS ARE

NOT AVAILABLE,

EXPAND THE SEARCH

BY USING THE POSTAL

CODE OR OTHER

PARAMETERS FOR

FINDING TESTING

CENTERS.

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Rescheduling an Appointment (within 72 hours)

Please note, candidates rescheduling their assessment within 72 hours of the original appointment time will incur a $75.00 (USD) rescheduling fee. The following screen will appear and the candidate will be required to enter credit card information before continuing.

For Technical Assistance with Webassessor or the Testing Centers Network, contact:

Kryterion, Inc. 800.403.6199

[email protected]

USD 75.00

USD 75.00

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Cancellations: Cancelling an Assessment Appointment

1. A candidate may cancel their assessment appointment for a full refund of $300.00 (USD) if the candidate makes the cancellation through their user account on Webassessor more than 72 hours before the appointment time.

2. A candidate may cancel their assessment appointment for a partial refund if the candidate

makes the cancellation within 72 hours prior to the appointment time. The partial refund will be $225.00 (USD).

3. A candidate may not cancel their assessment appointment on the assessment date (within 24

hours of the assessment appointment). This is considered a no-show and the candidate forfeits their assessment fee.

Cancelling an Assessment Appointment (with 72 hours)

Please note, candidates cancelling their assessment within 72 hours of the original appointment time will incur a $75.00 (USD) rescheduling fee. The following screen will appear advising that the refund for the assessment will be less the $75.00 (USD) cancellation fee.

Tinnitus Care Provider Assessment

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No-Shows

A candidate who fails to appear for their scheduled assessment appointment will not receive a refund. A no-show candidate may access their Webassessor account to schedule a new assessment appointment and pay the $300.00 (USD), plus applicable taxes, assessment fee again.

For Technical Assistance with Webassessor or the Testing Centers Network, contact:

Kryterion, Inc. 800.403.6199

[email protected]

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Taking the Assessment Identification & Authorization Code

In order to be admitted to the testing center, the candidate must bring the following three (3) items with them to the testing center for their assessment appointment. There will be no exceptions.

1. Photo identification

• Acceptable photo identification: A government-issued identification card or driver’s license,

passport, or military identification.

2. Second form of identification

• Acceptable second form of identification: either a second form of government-issued

identification, major credit card (i.e. Visa®, MasterCard®, or American Express®), check

cashing card, or bank debit card.

3. Authorization Code

• This is the Authorization Code that the candidate received in an email following the

Webassessor scheduling process.

BOTH forms of identification MUST match the name listed on the candidate’s Webassessor account. Please note that a Social Security Card is not an acceptable form of identification.

The candidate should arrive at the testing center at least 15 minutes early and provide the proctor at

the testing center with their personal Authorization Code and two (2) valid forms of identification. No

testing aids are permitted – calculator, scratch paper, dictionary, etc. Personal possessions such as

cellular phones, purses, and backpacks will be collected by the proctor, stored in a secured area, and

returned after the test session.

Taking the Assessment

There are one hundred and five (105) multiple-choice questions on the assessment. Candidates will

have two (2) hours to complete the assessment.

The assessment utilizes dichotomous scoring, meaning the answer selections are either right or wrong.

• The candidate will earn one (1) point for getting the question right (correct).

• The candidate will earn zero (0) points for getting the question wrong (incorrect).

Some questions on the assessment require the candidate to select two (2) or three (3) correct answers

out of those given. These questions will clearly state “which two” or “which three.”

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Test Aids

The following items will be given to the Test Taker upon entrance to the testing room. At the end of

the assessment, the items will be collected by the proctor.

1. Two (2) pencils 2. Three (3) pieces of scratch paper numbered 1-3

Assessment Security

IHS owns all proprietary rights and interests of the assessment, including but not limited to copyright,

trade secret, and/or patented information, as well as all assessment materials, including but not limited

to, the Assessment Guide, the assessment, and the answer key to the assessment.

The assessment is confidential. It is made available to the candidate solely for the purpose of assessing

the candidate’s achievement of the intended learning objectives. To protect the integrity of the

assessment, candidates are prohibited from disclosing the contents of this assessment, including, but

not limited to, questions, form of questions, or answers, in whole or in part, in any form or by any

means (i.e. verbal, written, electronic) to any third party for any purpose. Copying or communicating

assessment content is prohibited and may result in the cancellation of assessment results.

Candidates are at all times to maintain a professional attitude toward other candidates, proctors, and

other assessment personnel. In IHS’s sole discretion, conduct that is, or results in, a violation of security

or disrupts the administration of the assessment may result in immediate disqualification and ejection

from the assessment. Such conduct includes, but is not limited to, cheating, failing to follow all rules

and instructions governing the administration of the assessment, or otherwise compromising the

security or integrity of the assessment. Children will not be allowed to accompany candidates into the

testing center.

Additionally, candidates may not bring tobacco products, food, drinks, chewing gum, notes, scrap

paper, books, purses, briefcases, backpacks, hats, calculators, or cell phones into the testing center.

No smoking, eating, or drinking is allowed in the testing center.

Any candidate that brings unauthorized materials will be asked to surrender all assessment materials

and to leave the testing center without a refund.

Once a candidate has been seated and the assessment begins, the candidate may only leave the

assessment center to use the restroom, and only after obtaining permission from the proctor.

Candidates electing to use the restroom during the assessment will not receive extra time to complete

the assessment.

Assessment security violations will not be tolerated and IHS has the authority to notify appropriate

licensing agencies of improper or unethical conduct.

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No-Shows

A candidate who fails to appear for their scheduled assessment appointment will not receive a refund. A no-show candidate may access their Webassessor account to re-schedule an assessment appointment and pay the $300.00 (USD)assessment fee, plus applicable taxes, again.

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After the Assessment

Upon completion of the assessment, the candidate will receive a “Test Completion” email message from Webassessor containing their Assessment result (pass/fail). Candidates will receive a detailed score report via email from IHS within one week of the Assessment appointment.

Assessment Scoring

The assessment is comprised of one hundred and five (105) test questions (items). The passing score has been determined through a comprehensive standard setting process. The assessment will contain some scored and some non-scored (pilot) test questions. Administering pilot (non-scored) items allows the International Hearing Society to collect data on new items and assemble subsequent assessment test forms. Test-takers will not know which items are scored and which are pilot. This assessment utilizes dichotomous scoring, meaning the answer selections are either right or wrong. The candidate will earn one (1) point for getting the question right (correct). The candidate will earn zero (0) points for getting the question wrong (incorrect). This scoring method is the standard for healthcare and other competency assessments.

Score Reporting

The International Hearing Society (IHS) will provide each candidate with an electronic score report within one week of the assessment appointment. The score report will include an overall score and scores on each of the 5 assessment objectives:

1. Physiology 2. Psychology 3. Measurement 4. Management 5. Practice Organization

The IHS passing score is on a raw score (i.e., number correct) scale. As IHS creates new operational forms, they may not be exactly the same difficulty as the current test form. If the difficulty of the form changes, keeping the exact same passing score would not be appropriate. Statistical methods (i.e., equating) are used to identify a passing score on the new form that conveys the same level of expectations as the passing score on the previous form. Therefore, the actual passing score may change, but the meaning of the passing score (i.e., the level of knowledge and skills required for a passing score) remains constant.

Please note: Use of this guide does not assure you a passing score on the assessment.

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Re-Takes

If a candidate does not pass the initial assessment, they are eligible to schedule another assessment appointment. For re-takes, the candidate must pay the assessment fee of $300.00 (USD), plus applicable taxes, at the time of rescheduling. Candidates must re-take the exam within 30 days. Candidates may attempt the assessment twice (initial test and one retest). If a candidate fails the assessment both times, the candidate must attend the Tinnitus Care Provider workshop again to be eligible to retest.

For Technical Assistance with Webassessor or the Testing Centers Network, contact:

Kryterion, Inc. 800.403.6199

[email protected]

For more information, please contact

16880 Middlebelt Road, Suite 4, Livonia, MI 48154 Phone 734.522.7200 Fax 734.522.0200 www.ihsinfo.org