2026 Early Hearing Detection & Intervention Conference
March 15-17, 2026 • Jacksonville, FL
| PHASE UP (Preschool Hearing And Speech Education - University of Pittsburgh): Comparison of Preschool Hearing Screening Protocols
PHASE UP (Preschool Hearing And Speech Education - University of Pittsburgh): Comparison of Preschool Hearing Screening Protocols
Preschool Hearing and Speech Education - University of Pittsburgh (PHASE-UP) is a no-cost preschool hearing screening clinic for children ages 3 to 6 years. This poster describes a retrospective chart review of hearing screening results obtained from children seen in the PHASE UP clinic from September 2018 to April 2020. The hearing screening results came from a battery of three separate tests: (1) behavioral pure-tone audiometry, (2) physiological otoacoustic emissions (OAEs), and (3) tympanometry and/or otoscopy. Typically, the screening protocol began with tympanometry and/or otoscopy. Next, distortion product (DP) OAEs were measured at 2000, 3000, 4000, and 5000 Hz. Both absolute DP OAE amplitude and signal-to-noise ratio were recorded at each frequency. Finally, a behavioral pure-tone audiometric sweep was performed at a decibel hearing level of 20 at 1000, 2000, and 4000 Hz using play-based techniques specific for each age group. The goal of this study was to determine if applying a stricter OAE pass/fail criteria than currently used in widespread clinical practice would result in more efficient hearing screening practices within this population.
- As a result of attending this presentation, learners will be able to list the standard test battery for hearing screening in the preschool population.
- As a result of attending this presentation, learners will be able to describe current challenges with administering preschool hearing screening.
- As a result of attending this presentation, learners will be able to recognize how they can modify otoacoustic emissions (OAE) screening pass-fail criteria to more efficiently screen hearing in the preschool population.
Presentation:
3353554_14949Dr. NicoleCorbin.pdf
Handouts:
Handout is not Available
Transcripts:
CART transcripts are NOT YET available, but will be posted shortly after the conference
Presenters/Authors
Katie Vellody
(Primary Presenter), University of Pittsburgh, LEND, katie.vellody@pitt.edu;
Katie Vellody is adjunct faculty in the Department of Communication Science and Disorders in the School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences at the University of Pittsburgh. She is also a clinical pediatric audiologist at UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh. Ms. Vellody’s responsibilities include administrative, clinical, academic, and research. Ms. Vellody is the coordinator of the Preschool Hearing and Speech Education – University of Pittsburgh (PHASE UP) Clinic. She coordinates with over 40 schools in the surrounding Pittsburgh area to provide evidenced based preventative care and screening to the preschool and school age populations. In the PHASE UP clinic, she oversees all 1st year audiology (AuD) and speech language pathology (SLP) graduate students in the administration of preschool & school age hearing screening protocols. Other clinical responsibilities include providing free audiological hearing care to adults residing in Pittsburgh regions of Homewood & East Hills at the Wellness Pavilion Community Engagement Center – University of Pittsburgh. Ms. Vellody teaches two academic graduate level courses to both SLP and AuD graduate students in the fall and spring terms. She is the audiology LEND (Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental Disabilities) faculty for the University of Pittsburgh and participates as LEND faculty in the CARES (Connection, Advocacy, Resources, Empowerment and Support) program, a free family centered program to help children and young adults with neurodevelopmental and related disorders, and their families meet their goals. Ms. Vellody’s research interests include pediatric hearing health preventative care and peer assisted learning (PAL) in graduate level health science programs.
ASHA DISCLOSURE:
Financial -
• Receives Salary for Employment from University of Pittsburgh.
• Receives Salary for Employment from UPMC Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh.
Nonfinancial -
No relevant nonfinancial relationship exists.
AAA DISCLOSURE:
Financial -
Financial relationship with University of Pittsburgh
UPMC Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh.
Nature: Employment.
Nonfinancial -
No relevant nonfinancial relationship exists.
Nicole Corbin
(Co-Presenter), Association of Public Health Laboratories, nec61@pitt.edu;
Nicole Corbin is a Scientist and the Director of the Pediatric Binaural Integration Lab at Boys Town National Research Hospital. The goal of her lab is to understand how children who are deaf/hard-of-hearing in one ear learn to navigate complex listening environments and optimize auditory input to support their academic, communication, and social-emotional development. Prior to joining Boys Town National Research Hospital, she was an Assistant Professor and the Co-Investigator of a Pediatric Audiology Competitive Supplement to the Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental and related Disabilities (LEND) program at the University of Pittsburgh.
ASHA DISCLOSURE:
Financial -
No relevant financial relationship exists.
Nonfinancial -
No relevant nonfinancial relationship exists.
AAA DISCLOSURE:
Financial -
No relevant financial relationship exists.
Nonfinancial -
No relevant nonfinancial relationship exists.
Elizabeth Larget
(Co-Presenter,Co-Author), University of Pittsburgh, egl15@pitt.edu;
Elizabeth Larget is a graduate student in the Doctor of Audiology program at the University of Pittsburgh.
ASHA DISCLOSURE:
Financial -
Nonfinancial -
AAA DISCLOSURE:
Financial -
Nonfinancial -
Emily Miller
(Co-Presenter,Co-Author), University of Pittsburgh, ejm134@pitt.edu;
Emily Miller is a graduate student in the Doctor of Audiology program at the University of Pittsburgh.
ASHA DISCLOSURE:
Financial -
Nonfinancial -
AAA DISCLOSURE:
Financial -
Nonfinancial -
Xin Zhuang
(Co-Presenter,Co-Author), University of Pittsburgh, xiz213@pitt.edu;
Xin Zhuang is a graduate student in the Doctor of Audiology program at the University of Pittsburgh.
ASHA DISCLOSURE:
Financial -
Nonfinancial -
AAA DISCLOSURE:
Financial -
Nonfinancial -