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ABSTRACT INFORMATION
Title: 'Readability of and Useability of EHDI Newborn Hearing Screening Brochures' Track: 9 - Program Evaluation and Quality Improvement Keyword(s): health literacy, user-friendliness Learning Objectives: Describe characteristics of written information that contribute to perceived usability Identify three readability measures that provide estimates of reading grade level Specify five categories of brochure improvement that can improve perceived useability Abstract: The purpose of this study was to measure the readability and userfriendliness (clarity, complexity, organization, appearance, and cultural appropriateness of materials) of parent education brochures on newborn hearing screening. We obtained and studied English-language versions of the brochures that state newborn hearing screening programs prepare and distribute. We evaluated 48 state and/or territory brochures for readability with the Flesch Reading Ease (FRE), Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level (F-K), Gunning FOG Index, FORCAST and Simple Measure of Gobbledygook (SMOG) formulas. User-friendliness of the brochures was assessed by a group of parents, professionals, and students using an instrument specifically developed to assess useabililty (Arnold et al., 2006). The useability instrument included 22 items in five categories (i.e., layout, illustrations, clear message, manageable information, and cultural appropriateness). Most current newborn hearing screening brochures ranked as below target grade level (8th grade) for the Flesch-Kincaid (F-K) Grade Level (98%), FOG (81%), and SMOG (83%). In most brochures, essential information was rated as needing little work, with an easy read layout, appropriate illustrations and clear message. Information was rated as manageable for most brochures with culturally appropriate content. Overall ratings showed 58% of the brochures needing little work, and 42% needing some work. Parent education materials about newborn hearing screening are relatively easy to read and user-friendly, with the majority of brochures meeting target grade levels. Brochures exceeding the target grade levels can easily be revised to read easier, and be perceived as more user friendly by improving the layout, illustrations, message, information, and cultural appropriateness. 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
Nannette Nicholson - Primary Presenter University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences      Credentials: Ph.D., CCC-A      Other Affiliations: University of Arkansas at Little Rock Arkansas Children's Hospital       Nannette Nicholson is an Associate Professor and Director of Audiology in the Department of Audiology and Speech Pathology at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences and the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. In addition, she has an appointment at Arkansas Children's Hospital. She serves on the Arkansas Infant Hearing Advisory Board, and is on the Board of Directors for Arkansas Hands and Voices.       ASHA DISCLOSURE: Financial - No relevant financial relationship exist. Nonfinancial - No relevant nonfinancial relationship exist. Patti Martin - Co-Presenter Arkansas Children's Hospital      Credentials: Ph.D. CCC-A F-AAA      Other Affiliations: NCHAM       Patti Martin, Ph.D., is the Director of Audiology and Speech Language Pathology at Arkansas Children’s Hospital (ACH). Her areas of expertise include infant screening/assessment, family support and program development. Her efforts with infant hearing screening began with a collaboration project to investigate the efficacy of TEOAEs as a newborn screening tool in the early 1990s and continue through her work on the board of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association Special Interest Division on Childhood Hearing Disorders and as the Family Support Consultant for NCHAM. She has chaired the Arkansas Board of Examiners in Speech Pathology and Audiology, the Arkansas Universal Newborn Hearing Screening, Tracking and Intervention Boardand the Natinoal Investing in Family Support Conference for the past four years. Dr. Martin’s ongoing passion centers around how professionals can help support families in improving the outcomes of children with hearing loss.       ASHA DISCLOSURE: Financial - No relevant financial relationship exist. Nonfinancial - No relevant nonfinancial relationship exist. Samuel Atcherson - Author University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences      Credentials: Ph.D. CCC-A       Samuel Atcherson, Ph.D. is an Associate Professor at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences.       ASHA DISCLOSURE: Financial - No relevant financial relationship exist. Nonfinancial - No relevant nonfinancial relationship exist. Richard Zraick - Author University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences      Credentials: Ph.D., CCC-SLP      Other Affiliations: University of Arkansas at Little Rock       Richard Zraick is a professor in the Deparment of Audiology and Speech Pathology at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences and University of Arkansas at Little Rock.       ASHA DISCLOSURE: Financial - No relevant financial relationship exist. Nonfinancial - No relevant nonfinancial relationship exist. Lauren Schlagenhauf - Author University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences      Credentials: B.S.       Lauren Schlagenhauf is a 1st year Au.D. student in the Department of Audiology and Speech Pathology at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences.       ASHA DISCLOSURE: Financial - Nonfinancial -