2024 Early Hearing Detection & Intervention Conference
March 17-19, 2024 • Denver, CO
| Effects of the Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) on the Early Hearing Detection and Intervention 3 Month Diagnostic Benchmark
Effects of the Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) on the Early Hearing Detection and Intervention 3 Month Diagnostic Benchmark
Background: The Early Hearing Detection and Intervention (EHDI) 1-3-6 plan has positively impacted language development in children who are deaf or hard of hearing (Yoshinaga-Itano, 2003) since its endorsement in 2000 by the Joint Committee on Infant Hearing (JCIH). Beginning in March 2020, Boston Children's Hospital (BCH) reduced services and shut down satellite offices in response to the COVID-19 global pandemic.
Objectives: The study aims to answer the following questions: (1) Did BCH meet the EHDI benchmark of diagnosis by 3 months of age despite closures and reduced services during the COVID-19 pandemic? (2) Was there a difference in BCH’s ability to meet the EHDI diagnostic benchmark for children with unilateral versus bilateral referrals? We hypothesize a significant difference in the ability of BCH to meet the diagnostic benchmark during the COVID-19 pandemic compared to previous years. We additionally hypothesize a significant difference in BCH's ability to meet the diagnostic benchmark for patients with unilateral versus bilateral referrals.
Methods: A retrospective database and chart review will be completed for BCH patients born December 1, 2019 - September 30, 2020 to evaluate the ability to meet the 3 month diagnostic benchmark during the COVID-19 pandemic. Age at audiological service during the COVID-19 pandemic will be compared for unilateral and bilateral referrals and to control data obtained for the same months from each of the two years prior.
Analysis: T-tests and chi square tests will be utilized to assess our research questions.
References
Yoshinaga-Itano, C. (2003). From screening to early identification and intervention: Discovering predictors to successful outcomes for children with significant hearing loss. Journal of Deaf Studies and Deaf Education, 8, 11–30.
- Evaluate Boston Children's ability to meet diagnostic outcomes in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic
- Evaluate Boston Children's ability to meet the diagnostic needs of unilateral and bilateral refers in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Presentation:
23278_13537TracyWilkinson.pdf
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IaNhkK8ruXQ
Handouts:
Handout is not Available
Transcripts:
CART transcripts are NOT YET available, but will be posted shortly after the conference
Presenters/Authors
Tracy Wilkinson
(POC,Primary Presenter,Author,Co-Author), Boston Children's Hospital , tracy.wilkinson@childrens.harvard.edu;
Tracy Wilkinson is a doctoral student in audiology, completing her 4th year externship at Boston Children's Hospital.
ASHA DISCLOSURE:
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AAA DISCLOSURE:
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Sierra Nye
(POC,Co-Presenter,Co-Author), Boston Children's Hospital, sierra.nye@childrens.harvard.edu;
Sierra Nye is a doctural student in audiology completing her 4th year externship at Boston Children's Hospital.
ASHA DISCLOSURE:
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Amanda Griffin
(Co-Author), Boston Children's Hospital, amanda.griffin@childrens.harvard.edu;
Amanda Griffin is the Director of Audiology Research at Boston Children's Hospital and an Instructor of Otolaryngology at Harvard Medical School.
ASHA DISCLOSURE:
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Kosuke Kawai
(Co-Author), Boston Children's Hospital, kosuke.kawai@childrens.harvard.edu;
Kosuke Kawai is a senior biostatistician and epidemiologist, biostatistics and research design (BARD) and an Assistant Professor of Otolaryngology at Harvard Medical School.
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Derek Stiles
(Co-Author), Boston Children's Hospital, derek.stiles@childrens.harvard.edu;
Derek Stiles has been Director of Audiology at Boston Children's Hospital since 2014, and Director of the Center for Communication Enhancement since 2021. He leads a team of 30 audiologists, serving 20,000 patients a year across 6 clinical sites in Eastern Massachusetts. He also oversees the directors of the SLP, Feeding & Swallowing, Augmentative Communication, Autism Language, Deaf & Hard-of-Hearing, and Balance Programs at Boston Children's Hospital.
ASHA DISCLOSURE:
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No relevant financial relationship exists.
Nonfinancial -
No relevant nonfinancial relationship exists.
AAA DISCLOSURE:
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Financial relationship with OAS Center
Boston Children's Hospital.
Nature: employees.
Nonfinancial -
No relevant nonfinancial relationship exists.