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International Hearing Society’s
Certificate Program
Assessment Guide
©2018 v2 by the International Hearing Society, All rights reserved. No part of this document may be duplicated or transmitted without permission.
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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 give, 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. 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…………………...……………………………………………………………………………....……..9 Non-Discrimination Accommodation Request Creating a Test-Taker Account Scheduling an Assessment Appointment Rescheduling an Appointment Cancellations No-Shows
Taking the Assessment……………...………………………………………………………….………………………………20 Identification and Authorization Code Taking the Assessment Test Aids Assessment Security No-Shows
After the Assessment…………………………………………………………………………………………………….……..23 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
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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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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 Treatment (Tyler, 2006)
Fit hearing instruments and maskers
Perform tinnitus testing
Identify the eight red flags requiring medical clearance and make referral when necessary
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 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.
Textbooks
All candidates received these textbooks as part of the welcome package shipped to your address submitted during registration process.
Tyler, R.S. (Ed). (2016). The Consumer Handbook on Tinnitus (2nd Ed.). Sedona: Auricle Ink.
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 his/her accommodation request has been approved or denied. The candidate then may schedule and pay for his/her 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’ 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 his/her assessment appointment. Also attached to this introduction email message is this 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 using the following link 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 his/her test-taker account, the candidate will receive a “Welcome to Webassessor” email message containing his/her 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 his/her 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). The candidate chooses the date, time and location.
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Scheduling an Assessment Appointment
Following the candidate’s creation of his/her test-taker account, and the seventy-two (72) hour verification period, the candidate may login to his/her 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). The assessment fee of $300.00 (USD) 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 his/her 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
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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 day and time he/she desires (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. 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. A candidate is not scheduled to take the
assessment until he/she checks out and pays.
The assessment fee of $300.00 (USD) 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
NOTE, IF DESIRED
DATES AND
TIMES ARE NOT
AVAILABLE,
SELECT A
DIFFERENT
TESTING CENTER.
Tinnitus Care Provider Assessment $300.00
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Rescheduling an Assessment Appointment
Please note the following parameters regarding rescheduling an assessment:
A candidate may reschedule his/her assessment appointment more than 72 hours (exactly) before the appointment time at no charge.
A candidate may reschedule his/her assessment appointment 3 to 1 days (24-72 hours) before the appointment time by submitting an additional $75.00 (USD) rescheduling fee.
A candidate may not reschedule his/her assessment appointment on the assessment date (Less than 24 hours before 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 the Details link.
3. Click the Reschedule button in the lower right corner.
Tinnitus Care Provider Assessment
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4. 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.
5. 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 day and time he/she desires. 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 if you are rescheduling your assessment and you are within 72 hours of your originally scheduled assessment time, you will incur a $75.00 (USD) fee. The following screen will appear and you will be required to enter your credit card information before continuing.
For Technical Assistance with Webassessor or the Testing Centers Network, contact:
Kryterion, Inc. 800.403.6199
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Cancellations: Cancelling an Assessment Appointment
1. A candidate may cancel his/her assessment appointment for a full refund of $300.00 (USD) if the candidate makes the cancellation through his/her user account on Webassessor more than 72 hours before the appointment time.
2. A candidate may cancel his/her 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 his/her 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 if you are cancelling your assessment and you are within 72 hours of your originally scheduled assessment time, you will incur a $75.00 (USD) fee. The following screen will appear advising that your refund for the assessment will be less the $75.00 (USD) cancellation fee.
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No-Shows
A candidate who fails to appear for his/her scheduled assessment appointment will not receive a refund. A no-show candidate may access his/her Webassessor account to schedule a new assessment appointment and pay the $300.00 (USD) assessment fee again.
For Technical Assistance with Webassessor or the Testing Centers Network, contact:
Kryterion, Inc. 800.403.6199
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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.
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 his/her personal Authorization Code and his/her 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).
A few questions on the assessment require the candidate to select two (2) answers. For these particular
questions, the candidate must select two (2) answer options out of the four (4) options available or out
of five (5) options available. A few questions may request you to select three (3) answers out of five (5)
options. In some cases, there are only (3) answer options.
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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 candidates have been seated and the assessment begins, candidates 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.
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No-Shows
A candidate who fails to appear for his/her scheduled assessment appointment will not receive a refund. A no-show candidate may access his/her Webassessor account to re-schedule an assessment appointment and pay the $300.00 (USD) assessment fee 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 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, he/she is eligible to schedule another assessment appointment. For re-takes, the candidate must pay the assessment fee of $300.00 (USD) at the time of rescheduling. Candidates must re-take the exam within 30 days. Candidates may sit for the assessment twice (initial test and one retest). If a candidate fails the assessment both times, the candidate must re-register for the workshop to be eligible to retest.
For Technical Assistance with Webassessor or the Testing Centers Network, contact:
Kryterion, Inc. 800.403.6199
For more information, please contact
16880 Middlebelt Road, Suite 4, Livonia, MI 48154 Phone 734.522.7200 Fax 734.522.0200 www.ihsinfo.org