| Title: |
'Successes and challenges to providing timely infant diagnostic hearing assessments' |
| Track: |
2-Audiological Assessment and Intervention
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| Audience: |
Primary Audience:
Audiologist
Secondary Audience:
State Health Department
Tertiary Audeince:
Family of a child with hearing loss
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| Keyword(s): |
ABR, Sedation, Natural Sleep, Operating Room |
| Learning Objectives: |
1. Identify common challenges to completing timely infant diagnostic assessments
2. Identify successful strategies for completing an infant ABR during natural sleep
3. Describe typical wait times for ABR appointments when completed during natural sleep, under sedation, and in the operating room
4. Describe the average infant age at testing when ABR is completed during natural sleep, under sedation, and in the operating room
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Abstract: |
When a baby fails the newborn hearing screening, parents are told that a comprehensive diagnostic hearing test is needed to determine if a hearing loss is present. If a hearing loss is present, this evaluation provides the necessary details to move forward with the intervention process. Crucial steps, such as hearing aid fitting and early intervention decisions are made using the results from the diagnostic evaluation. Further progress in the EHDI process is reliant on the diagnostic evaluation and the earlier testing is done the earlier intervention can begin. In fact, the Joint Committee on Infant Hearing (2007) guidelines recommend that this testing be completed no later than 3 months of age. Unfortunately, many babies are not receiving testing in a timely manner.
In order to better understand current challenges, and successes, a survey was developed to ask audiologists about their practice patterns. The survey was distributed to centers that perform infant diagnostic hearing evaluation services. State EHDI coordinators were invited to participate. Thirty states decided to be involved in the study, and a total of 1035 surveys were mailed out. The results of this survey will be presented, and the audience will be invited to share their thoughts and suggestions on issues related to timely diagnostic testing.
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| Presentation(s): |
Not Available
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| Handouts: |
Not Available
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