Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Some Permanent Hearing Loss Is Missed When "Switched Ear" Passes Are Used To Determine Screening Results, Beverly G. Lim, Maria Perez-Abalo, Jillian Gerstenberger, Shauna Morales Flowers

Journal of Early Hearing Detection and Intervention

A common practice in Universal Newborn Hearing Screen (UNHS) programs is rolling up non-simultaneous passing results in each ear (SW_EAR) from repeat automated screens into a bilateral pass. This study aims to provide evidence-based criteria for best practices regarding SW_EAR screens. From January 2010 to May 2013, infants with SW_EARs results were prospectively monitored by MEDNAX-Pediatrix’s nationwide UNHS program, which combine inpatient/outpatient screens utilizing automated auditory brainstem response (AABR). The tracked audiologic evaluations of 16,129 refer infants (2,334 due to SW_EAR) out of the total infant population screened (2,492,314) were analyzed retrospectively. A high proportion of hearing loss (354/2334, 15%) …

Measuring Nurses' Knowledge And Understanding Of Universal Newborn Hearing Screenings, Caitlyn Roberts, Alisha L. Jones

Journal of Early Hearing Detection and Intervention

The present study was conducted to investigate the knowledge and understanding of Universal Newborn Hearing Screening (UNHS) in nursing professionals. A group of 15 adult, licensed nurses with varied professional experience participated in the study. Participants completed both objective and subjective measurements to evaluate their current knowledge of training procedures. A free online UNHS training program offered through the National Center for Hearing Assessment and Management (NCHAM) served as both the objective measure and training module. Participants completed pre- and post-surveys as the subjective measure of their UNHS training. Results of these surveys were compared across the participants to determine …

Parental Satisfaction And Objective Test Measurements Associated With Post-Partum Versus Nursery Newborn Hearing Screening, Jennifer E. Bentley, Wenyang Mao, Wendy Timpson, Jane Stewart

Journal of Early Hearing Detection and Intervention

Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC; Boston, MA) initiated a change to the newborn hearing screening program in 2013 to encourage increased parental presence at the time of screening and support a more family centered hospital environment. Newborn hearing screening program technicians were encouraged to conduct all hearing screens in the parent’s post-partum rooms instead of in the nursery. To measure the effect of this change on the families and screening measures, satisfaction surveys and retrospective data was collected over a 2 year period and compared. Newborn hearing screening program technicians and mother-baby nursing staff were surveyed to determine influence …

Scheduling Hearing Appointments Prior To Hospital Discharge Improves Follow-Up After Failed Newborn Screening, Tri Tran, Lili Schindelar, Terri Ibieta, Jeanette Webb, Wendy Jumonville, Melinda Peat, Susan Berry

Journal of Early Hearing Detection and Intervention

The study aimed to identify if there was a relationship between a follow-up hearing appointment scheduled prior to hospital discharge (hospital scheduled appointment) and follow-up status, including loss to follow-up or loss to documentation (LTF/LTD); early follow-up initiation; and early completion of audiological diagnosis. The study included 4,597 children who were born between January 2015 and June 2016 in Louisiana birthing hospitals and failed newborn hearing screening (NHS) prior to hospital discharge. Of the study population, 56.1% of children were scheduled for a follow-up hearing appointment prior to hospital discharge. Among children without a hospital scheduled appointment, the rate of …

Are Audiologists Directly Referring Children With Hearing Loss To Early Intervention?, Natalie Loyola, Bridget Shanahan, Cailin Shanahan, Kosuke Kawai, Derek J. Stiles

Journal of Early Hearing Detection and Intervention

This article describes the ways that pediatric audiologists are directing infants into Early Intervention, and the related barriers and facilitators. Over one hundred pediatric audiologists responded to an online survey including questions on how audiologists provide direct and indirect referrals to Early Intervention for those infants that are diagnosed with hearing loss. Most respondents agreed that audiologists are the best person to provide this referral, but many audiologists did not make the direct referral. Barriers to direct referral included time constraints and resistance from parents. Opportunities identified to improve referral included online referral systems and national guidelines for what qualifies …

Effectiveness Of Dexmedetomidine For Sedation In Auditory Brainstem Response Testing, Laura Sherry, Eric Levey, Carolyn Gillen, Joseph P. Pillion

Journal of Early Hearing Detection and Intervention

Sedation is widely used for auditory brainstem response (ABR) testing for infants or young children who are unable to sleep or remain adequately quiet for testing. Because chloral hydrate is no longer readily available, dexmedetomidine has been proposed as an alternative medicinal agent to achieve moderate levels of sedation without risk of respiratory depression. The purpose of the study was to assess the effectiveness of dexmedetomidine in terms of the completeness of the audiologic data obtained in achieving moderate levels of sedation for auditory brainstem response testing. A retrospective chart review was conducted on ninety-nine patients at Kennedy Krieger Institute. …

Using Data To Improve Services For Infants With Hearing Loss: Linking Newborn Hearing Screening Records With Early Intervention Records, Maria Gonzalez, Lori Iarossi, Yan Wu, Ying Huang, Kirsten Siegenthaler

Journal of Early Hearing Detection and Intervention

The purpose of this study was to match records of infants with permanent hearing loss from the New York Early Hearing Detection and Intervention Information System (NYEHDI-IS) to records of infants with permanent hearing loss receiving early intervention services from the New York State Early Intervention Program (NYSEIP) to identify areas in the state where hearing screening, diagnostic evaluations and referrals to the NYSEIP were not being made or documented in a timely manner. Data from 2014-2016 NYEHDI-IS and NYEIS information systems were matched using The Link King. There were 274 infants documented in NYEIS Information System as receiving early …

Implementing A Two Class System For Monitoring Risk Indicators For Delayed-Onset Hearing Loss, Jessica Renee Stich-Hennen, Gabriel Anne Bargen

Journal of Early Hearing Detection and Intervention

Purpose: This manuscript discusses the importance of establishing risk indicator monitoring guidelines for state Early Hearing Detection and Intervention programs.

Method: Idaho Sound Beginnings (ISB) implemented a guideline which divided risk indicators associated with delayed-onset hearing loss into two classes (Class A and Class B). From 2012-2013, the incidence of delayed-onset hearing loss in the presence of Class A and Class B risk indicators were evaluated. For Class B risk indicators, ototoxic medication exposure and family history were analyzed.

Results: Of the 10,634 infants born, 1,175 were found to have passed the newborn hearing screening and have at least one …

Hearing And Vision Screening In Pediatric Primary Care And The Sharing Of Results With Early Care And Education Programs, Susan J. Macary, Lisa Honigfeld, Margaret W. Berry, Dorothy B. Wakefield

Journal of Early Hearing Detection and Intervention

This study explores the extent to which pediatric primary care (PPC) providers share hearing and vision screening results with early care and education (ECE) programs and report being unable to assess hearing and vision among pre-kindergarten children. Reports of hearing and vision screening are assessed to explore whether national support for early hearing detection and intervention has similarly promoted vision screening in PPC. We evaluated the reporting of hearing and vision screening data from 4,119 Early Childhood Health Assessment records, which were obtained from licensed ECE programs in Connecticut. Records were stratified by age group into younger or older per …

Information Given To Parents Of Neonatal-Intensive Care Unit Graduates On Hearing, Cydney E. Gehring, Alisha L. Jones

Journal of Early Hearing Detection and Intervention

Preterm infants and neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) graduates are more likely to have risk factors associated with hearing loss than their full-term, healthy peers, making them more prone to experience hearing loss (Behrman & Butler, 2007). This study examined information presented to parents during and after the newborn hearing screening (NBHS). A 22 question survey was posted on NICU and preemie support websites for parents to access and participate in anonymously. Results of the survey were analyzed for respondents indicating that their child was born in the year 2007 to the present. Thirty-nine percent of responding parents were unaware …

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, …