17th ANNUAL EARLY HEARING DETECTION & INTERVENTION MEETING
March 18-20, 2018 • Denver, CO
| What is the Current Practice and Comfort Level of Pediatric Audiologists in the Early Detection, Screening and Referral of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder?
What is the Current Practice and Comfort Level of Pediatric Audiologists in the Early Detection, Screening and Referral of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder?
A referral to audiology is often the first step for children who are suspected to have a speech and language delay. Behaviors associated with hearing loss as well as speech and language disorders are similar to early indicators seen in Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), which often makes an audiologist the initial contact for children later diagnosed with ASD. The American Academy of Audiology and the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association agree that it is within the scope of practice of audiologists to screen for communication disorders (including ASD) for the purposes of initial identification and further referral to appropriate specialists. However, it is unclear what the current practice and the comfort level is among clinical audiologists who regularly see pediatric patients with regards to screening and making appropriate referrals. This project aims to explore this question and to identify barriers that clinical audiologists face when it comes to managing children suspected to have ASD. This poster will detail the results of a descriptive study using a qualitative and quantitative survey questionnaire, with data collected between September 2017 and January 2018 (dates tentative). Clinical audiologists from around the country have been invited to complete an online survey distributed via email, that asks them to indicate their current practices, comfort level and perceived barriers to the ASD screening and referral process. This poster will encourage discussion on how to best support audiologists in their education and training related to appropriate management of patients with suspected ASD.
- The current practices among clinical audiologists in regards to screening for suspected ASD and who they are making referrals to.
- The barriers that audiologists face that may deter them from providing the screening and making appropriate referrals
- How we can best support audiologists in their education and training related to appropriate management of patients with suspected ASD
Presentation:
15805_7719TarjaBerry.pdf
Handouts:
Handout is not Available
Transcripts:
CART transcripts are NOT YET available, but will be posted shortly after the conference
Presenters/Authors
Tarja Berry
(), Boston Children's Hospital , tarja.berry@childrens.harvard.edu;
Tarja Berry is a currently an audiology extern at Boston Children's Hospital completing the fourth year requirements of her audiology doctoral program at Northeastern University. She is also a fellow of the Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental and Related Disabilities (LEND) Program.
ASHA DISCLOSURE:
Financial -
No relevant financial relationship exist.
Nonfinancial -
No relevant nonfinancial relationship exist.
Page Beukelman
(), Boston Children's Hospital , page.beukelman@childrens.harvard.edu;
Page Beukelman is a currently an audiology extern at Boston Children's Hospital completing the fourth year requirements of her audiology doctoral program at University of Arizona. She is also a fellow of the Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental and Related Disabilities (LEND) Program.
ASHA DISCLOSURE:
Financial -
No relevant financial relationship exist.
Nonfinancial -
No relevant nonfinancial relationship exist.
Grace Chang
(), Boston Children's Hospital, grace.chang@childrens.harvard.edu;
Grace Chang is a currently an audiology extern at Boston Children's Hospital completing the fourth year requirements of her audiology doctoral program at University of Washington. She is also a fellow of the Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental and Related Disabilities (LEND) Program.
ASHA DISCLOSURE:
Financial -
No relevant financial relationship exist.
Nonfinancial -
No relevant nonfinancial relationship exist.