Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Hearing Loss Diagnosis Provision Of Information And Support: Audiologist And Parent Perspectives, Brandi Davis, Emily Knowd, Alisha L. Jones

Journal of Early Hearing Detection and Intervention

When a child is diagnosed with hearing loss, the parents are faced with many decisions that will impact their child’s future. This study aimed to obtain data to determine viewpoints on information being provided to parents of children with hearing loss from both audiologist and parent perspectives. Topics of information surveyed included information on modes of communication, Deaf culture, cochlear implants, emotional support, and state resources/laws. A survey was created and shared in Facebook groups for audiologists and parents of Deaf/hard of hearing children. The survey was completed by 91 audiologists and 111 parents. Audiologist and parent survey data was …

Well-Being Of Parents Of Children Who Are Deaf Or Hard Of Hearing, Courtney P. Kasin, Karen F. Munoz, Clarissa W. Ong, John J. Whicker, Michael P. Twohig

Journal of Early Hearing Detection and Intervention

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to explore factors influencing the well-being of parents who have children who are deaf or hard of hearing (DHH) and to compare their experiences to non-clinical samples.

Method: A cross-sectional online survey was used to collect data (N = 296).

Results: Data analyses revealed the majority of parents of children who are DHH were functioning similarly to or better than the non-clinical samples in our comparison and within the non-clinical range for the included measures. No relationship was found between factors related to child age or timing of services (age at diagnosis, time …

Engaging Parents Of Children With Mild Bilateral Or Unilateral Hearing Loss: Counseling Considerations, Karen F. Munoz, Clarissa W. Ong, Michael P. Twohig

Journal of Early Hearing Detection and Intervention

A notable percentage of children identified with hearing loss through newborn hearing screening have mild bilateral or unilateral hearing loss (MB/UHL). Caregivers’ appropriately strong emotions, fears, and personal struggles may inadvertently interfere with their engagement with audiologists and other professionals, as well as adherence to jointly determined intervention protocols. Researchers have shown variable outcomes for children with MB/UHL, counseling that includes addressing emotional and cognitive factors is essential for effectively engaging parents. The aim of this article is to describe counseling attributes and strategies that providers can incorporate when working with parents of children with MB/UHL to improve parent engagement …

Teaching Counseling Skills In Audiology Graduate Programs: Clinical Supervisors’ Perceptions And Practices, Karen F. Muñoz, Trenton J. Landon, Kim Corbin-Lewis

Communicative Disorders and Deaf Education Faculty Publications

Background: Counseling is a critical component within audiological service delivery. Partnering with patients to support them in learning to effectively cope with their hearing challenges is a key component in achieving desired outcomes. Even though there is agreement on the foundational role counseling plays in audiology service delivery, counseling instruction varies among audiology training programs.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the perspectives and practices of supervisors in audiology graduate training programs related to mentoring students in the acquisition of counseling skills.

Research Design: A cross-sectional design was used; participants completed a self-report survey.

Study Sample: The …

Counseling In Audiology: Aud Students’ Perspectives And Experiences, John J. Whicker, Karen F. Muñoz, Jared C. Schultz

Communicative Disorders and Deaf Education Faculty Publications

Counseling in audiology is an important aspect of service delivery. How audiologists interact with patients and foster counseling relationships to help patients and families understand and live with hearing loss can impact outcomes of audiological interventions. Currently, variability exists in how graduate training programs are teaching counseling skills, and the extent to which counseling skills development is supported in clinical experiences is unclear. This article seeks to explore the perspectives related to the importance of counseling and counseling training experiences received through clinical instruction of Au.D. students beginning their final year of study, to identify where counseling training might be …

Counseling Skill Development In Audiology: Clinical Supervision Considerations, Karen F. Muñoz

Communicative Disorders and Deaf Education Faculty Publications

Audiologists play a critical role in supporting patients as they provide diagnostic information about their hearing and in the delivery of treatment services. Graduate training related to counseling, however, varies among programs in the extent students are prepared to engage effectively and intentionally with patients. Instruction is needed to provide students with a framework that supports their ability to learn and implement evidence-based counseling services. This article addresses the impact patients can experience when counseling gaps exist, shares clinical instruction strategies that can support students' acquisition of counseling skills, and discusses considerations for integration of counseling education into graduate training …

Audiology Students’ Perception Of Hybrid Simulation Experiences: Qualitative Evaluation Of Debriefing Sessions, Ahmad A. Alanazi, Nannette Nicholson, Samuel R. Atcherson, Clifford A. Franklin, Naveen K. Nagaraj, Michael Anders, Laura Smith-Olinde

Journal of Early Hearing Detection and Intervention

Simulation-based research is still new in the audiology field and requires more research to better understand students’ perspectives on standardized patients/parents (SPs) and manikins use. There is also limited research about debriefing practices in audiology. This qualitative study used a baby simulator and SPs to evaluate audiology students’ reflection during three debriefing sessions conducted at the University of Arkansas for Medical Science (UAMS) Simulation Center. Seventeen Doctor of Audiology (AuD) students participated in the simulation event, and the data were collected using the transcripts of videotaped debriefing sessions. The qualitative content analysis of the transcripts revealed eight sub-themes: support, compassion, …