Meaningful Auditory Integration Scale (MAIS)

The MAIS is a profile used in interview-style with parents. It explores a child’s adaptation to a hearing device, hearing aid or implant. It consists of 10 queries, with probes, to explore their bonding to the device, their alertness to sound and ability to derive meaning from auditory stimuli in everyday situations.

The Infant-Toddler Meaningful Auditory Integration Scale (IT-MAIS) is a modification of the Meaningful Auditory Integration Scale (MAIS) (Robbins et al. 1991). It’s a structured interview schedule designed to assess the child’s spontaneous responses to sound in their everyday environment. The assessment is based upon information provided by the child’s family in response to 10 probes. These 10 probes assess three main areas:

• vocalisation behaviour
• alerting to sounds
• deriving meaning from sound.

Specific scoring criteria have been developed for each of the 10 probes.

Age range

No specific limits.

Who can use it?

Parents and professionals working with deaf children.

What does it give us?

It gives a score over time for the development of listening skills in everyday life. The iPad version of the IT-MAIS helps professionals collect and save parental reports concerning their child’s response to sound through interview format. Download and print the Advanced Bionics IT-MAIS in English for free here.

The test allows creation of up to 30 different child accounts and for repeated interviews over the child’s first two years of listening. Professionals using the app can tap and type for each of the ten probes and view the overall score on the score sheet. They can revisit the sheet at any time or share by email the information collected. Requires iPad 2 or newer.

Pros

• Easy to use.
• Captures use of audition in everyday life.
• Captures parents’ views – and children when they can contribute.
• Identifies situations in which listening is difficult.
• Free app.

Cons

• MAIS doesn’t explore the very early stages, hence the development of Infant Toddler MAIS (IT-MAIS).
• Produces a profile, not a standardised test.

Is there a cost?

No

Where can I access it?

You can access the assessment for free through Advanced Bionics.