2024 Early Hearing Detection & Intervention Conference
March 17-19, 2024 • Denver, CO
3/18/2024 | 10:05 AM - 10:30 AM | Addressing Disparities in Hearing Health Care through Mobile and Tele-Audiology | Capitol 7
Addressing Disparities in Hearing Health Care through Mobile and Tele-Audiology
In this presentation, we will 1) Outline the importance of timely diagnosis of hearing loss and early intervention and its impact on language and literacy, 2) Explain how Georgia Mobile Audiology (GMA) has addressed this issue in our state and, 3) Demonstrate how participants can integrate a similar approach where they live.
Deaf and Hard of Hearing (D/HH) children can perform academically on the same level as their typical hearing peers. However, due to the lack of access to hearing health care in rural areas of our country, timely diagnosis and early intervention are often delayed. Research is clear that when children who are D/HH are diagnosed by three months and receive early intervention by sixth months of age, language and literacy outcomes are vastly improved. In 2020, approximately 94% of babies born in Georgia received a Newborn Hearing Screening (NBHS) prior to leaving the hospital. However, of those that failed their NBHS, only 22% received a diagnostic hearing evaluation by three months of age. Many of these children have challenges accessing audiological services because they reside in rural areas. GMA was created to address this “Diagnostic Dilemma” and “zip code lottery” to ultimately improve language and literacy outcomes for D/HH children. Since its advent, GMA has provided diagnostic hearing evaluations to over 500 children and screenings to over 300, primarily in rural areas that otherwise would not have access to hearing healthcare. GMA’s innovative approach includes a fully functional mobile audiology clinic, tele-audiology services, and a team of audiologists and parent navigators, who guide families through diagnosis, early intervention, and transition points along their D/HH journey.
We believe this approach can be applied to other states, and what we have learned can benefit those interested in implementing a similar program.
- 1) The participant can explain the relationship between early diagnosis/intervention and language and literacy outcomes.
- 2) The participant will identify obstacles to access to hearing health care in their state.
- 3) The participant will describe strategies for implementing mobile and tele-audiology services in their states.
Presentation:
3478265_16408SarahJones.pdf
Handouts:
Handout is not Available
Transcripts:
CART transcripts are NOT YET available, but will be posted shortly after the conference
Presenters/Authors
Sarah Jones
(Primary Presenter), GA Department of Education, State Schools, sarah.jones@doe.k12.ga.us;
Sarah Jones is a Pediatric Audiologist in Georgia. She works for Georgia Mobile Audiology, housed within the Georgia Department of Education (GA DOE). Prior to working with the GA DOE, she managed the Newborn Hearing Screening Program at Tampa General Hospital in Tampa, FL. Her primary interests include diagnosis, early intervention, and expanding access to audiology services to rural communities. Dr. Jones also has a special interest in cCMV screening and intervention and served on the American Academy of Audiology's cCMV Position Statement Committee (2023). Sarah lives in South Georgia with her husband and one year old son.
ASHA DISCLOSURE:
Financial -
Nonfinancial -
No relevant nonfinancial relationship exists.
AAA DISCLOSURE:
Financial -
Financial relationship with Georgia Mobile Audiology, Georgia Department of Education.
Nature: I am an employee of the Georgia Department of Education.
Nonfinancial -
No relevant nonfinancial relationship exists.
Monica Glapion
(Co-Presenter), GA Department of Education, monica.glapion@doe.k12.ga.us;
Monica Glapion is a pediatric audiologist and program director for Georgia Mobile Audiology Program within the Georgia Department of Education State Schools Division.
She has over 21 years of audiology experience, most of which serving the pediatric population in education. Monica’s child focused personable approach has been successful in fostering positive outcomes for students and families in need of audiological services.
Monica is a member of the Educational Audiology Association and the American Speech Language and Hearing Association. She enjoys spending time with her husband and three teenage daughters watching movies and cooking.
ASHA DISCLOSURE:
Financial -
No relevant financial relationship exists.
Nonfinancial -
No relevant nonfinancial relationship exists.
AAA DISCLOSURE:
Financial -
No relevant financial relationship exists.
Nonfinancial -
No relevant nonfinancial relationship exists.