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ABSTRACT INFORMATION
Title: 'Early Childhood Hearing Outreach (ECHO) Initiative: Improving the Identification of Hearing Loss in the Birth-to-Three Population Using Otoacoustic Emissions and Tympanometry' Track: 6 - Follow-up, Tracking and Data Management Keyword(s): ECHO, otoacoustic emissions, tympanometry, screenings Learning Objectives: What: Discuss the implementation of a hearing screening program that uses OAEs and tympanometry to screen children in an Early Head Start Program. Why: Determine if an OAE hearing screening program that is implemented in Early Head Start is feasible and whether or not the program reduces loss to follow-up for newborn hearing screenings. How: Collaborate with the Wisconsin state EHDI program (Wisconsin Sound Beginnings) to identify children screened through the Early Head Start pilot program who were lost to follow-up. Abstract: Since the implementation of universal newborn hearing screening (UNHS), the age in which children are diagnosed with hearing loss has decreased significantly. This allows for the implementation of appropriate early intervention services for children with hearing loss. The universal newborn hearing screening program has transformed early intervention services for children with hearing loss; however, there are still children who slip through the cracks. A significant number of children are lost to follow-up after referring during the universal newborn hearing screening. In addition to the children who are lost to follow-up, some children born with intact hearing may experience late-onset or progressive hearing loss within the first few years of life. The purpose of this poster is to describe the Early Childhood Hearing Outreach (ECHO) efforts being made at Wisconsin's Dane and Green County Early Head Start Programs and to determine if these efforts have affected the loss to follow-up rate in Wisconsin. The Wisconsin ECHO pilot program was started in August 2012. The program was created to screen children between the ages of birth to three enrolled in Dane and Green County Early Head Start Programs. A team of clinical faculty and graduate students in audiology from the University of Wisconsin (referred to as the UW ECHO team) worked with these Early Head Start Programs to begin the implementation of the ECHO pilot program. The UW ECHO team provided training to the Early Head Start staff on the use of otoacoustic emission (OAE) screening equipment. The UW ECHO team performed the majority of initial OAE screenings at local Head Start Centers and at various Head Start social events. Members of the UW ECHO team also performed in-home OAE re-screens for children. Presentation: This presentation has not yet been uploaded or the speaker has opted not to make the presentation available online. Handouts: Handout is not Available
PRESENTER(S) / AUTHOR(S) INFORMATION
Krista Sershen - Primary Presenter University of Wisconsin, Doctor of Audiology Program; LEND Program      Credentials: Bachelor of Science      Other Affiliations: University of Wisconsin-Madison, Doctor of Audiology Program; MCH LEND Program, Waisman Center, Madison, Wisconsin       Krista Sershen is a third year audiology graduate student at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.       ASHA DISCLOSURE: Financial - No relevant financial relationship exist. Nonfinancial - No relevant nonfinancial relationship exist. Amy Hartman - Author University of Wisconsin Doctor of Audiology Program, Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders      Credentials: Au.D., CCC-A       Dr. Hartman’s clinical focus is working with deaf and hard of hearing children. She is particularly interested in audiologic assessment of infants and young children and (central) auditory processing evaluations. Dr. Hartman has clinical expertise in the area of diagnostic audiologic assessment and hearing aid assessments and fittings for the pediatric population. Her previous clinical experiences include work at a children’s hospital and a large multi-specialty clinic. Dr. Hartman has clinical experience in the areas of behavioral diagnostic testing, electrophysiological assessment, including sedated and non-sedated auditory brainstem response testing, newborn hearing screening, (central)auditory processing evaluations, and the fitting of hearing aids and other assistive listening devices.       ASHA DISCLOSURE: Financial - No relevant financial relationship exist. Nonfinancial - No relevant nonfinancial relationship exist.