2024 Early Hearing Detection & Intervention Conference
March 17-19, 2024 • Denver, CO
| Weighted Family Perceptual Factors Impacting Early Intervention Services for Children who are Deaf and Hard of Hearing
Weighted Family Perceptual Factors Impacting Early Intervention Services for Children who are Deaf and Hard of Hearing
In 2020, EHDI programs across the country screened nearly 3.5 million children, referred approximately 69,000 for diagnostic assessments, and of those, tracked 6,321 children with hearing differences. Of those tracked, only 61.4% were receiving early intervention (EI) services (CDC, 2023). The most common non-medical reason for children not to be enrolled in intervention services is “parents declined” (CDC, 2021). Children who do not receive intervention services following identification are considered lost to intervention (LTI) and may be at risk for language learning and mental health challenges that emerge as lifelong obstacles (Hall, 2017). Woodruff-Gautherin & Cienkowski (2023) proposed a model based on expert feedback to explain why LTI occurs within EHDI. Broadly, this model outlines the perceptions and experiences of families that may lead them away from accessing services including Family Experience, Family Culture and Values, Perceived Barriers the families expect in accessing services, Perceived Benefit to the family and child of accessing services, and Perceived Vulnerability of the child and family to the negative sequelae of not pursuing services. However, the importance of each factor was not investigated. This study examines the relative impact of these five identified factors on those individuals' LTI from the perspective of subject matter experts. By identifying the most significant components of this model, professionals moving forward can target such factors in family centered care, which may result in EI services that are more accessible and responsive to the wants and needs of families. While providers may not be able to directly mitigate all factors, by identifying family's needs and understanding how that can influence service provision decisions, providers may be able to guide families to the most accessible and appropriate supports.
- Define the role of Early Hearing Detection and Intervention for children identified with hearing differences.
- Identify factors and their weight influencing family decisions to enroll in Early Intervention services.
- Identify barriers to accessing interventions for children identified as D/deaf or Hard of Hearing.
Presentation:
3478265_16202EmilyLaSpada.pdf
Handouts:
3478265_16202EmilyLaSpada.pdf
Transcripts:
CART transcripts are NOT YET available, but will be posted shortly after the conference
Presenters/Authors
Torri Ann Woodruff-Gautherin
(Primary Presenter,Co-Presenter,Author,Co-Author), University of Connecticut, torri.woodruff@uconn.edu;
Torri Ann Woodruff-Gautherin, PhD is a Research Scientist in the HELLO Lab of Dr. Derek Houston at UCONN. Passionate about bolstering the voices of stakeholders, Torri Ann implements qualitative methods to highlight the power and value of individual voices in making change. Torri Ann is interested in the intersection of public health, early intervention, and family support.
ASHA DISCLOSURE:
Financial -
• Receives Grants for Other activities from Educational Audiology Association .
• Receives Salary for Employment from UConn.
Nonfinancial -
• Has a Professional (Co Chair)
relationship for Volunteer membership on advisory committee or review panels.
• Has a Professional (Board memeber)
relationship for Volunteer membership on advisory committee or review panels.
AAA DISCLOSURE:
Financial -
Financial relationship with Follow up research on this topic is funded by the Educational Audiology Association
Torri Ann Woodruff-Gautherin is employed by the University of Connecticut as a Research Scientist in the HELLO Lab.
Nature: Torri Ann Woodruff-Gautherin serves on the CT EHDI Taskforce and CT Hands and Voices Board.
Nonfinancial -
No relevant nonfinancial relationship exists.
Emily LaSpada
(Co-Presenter,Co-Author), University Of Connecticut , emily.laspada@uconn.edu;
Emily LaSpada is a senior at the University of Connecticut with studies concentrated in Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences. Experience working through both the West Hartford and Mansfield Public school systems led a strong educational background. Emily has a passion for working with individuals that are D/deaf and Hard of Hearing stemming from fluency in ASL and a history with the American School for the Deaf. Recent experience in the UConn Speech Processing and Language Development and Aural Rehabilitation Labs, and work as a Newborn Hearing Screener, have shaped the goal of working as a Pediatric Audiologist with research work.
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.
Kathleen Cienkowski
(Co-Author), University of Connecticut, cienkowski@uconn.edu;
Kathleen M Cienkowski, Ph.D. CCC/A is an Associate Professor and Department Head of SLHS at the University of Connecticut. Dr. Cienkowski studies the benefits of AR among patients with acquired hearing loss and their families. Her work has been funded by National Institutes of Health and the Veterans Administration. She is the Past-President of the Academy of Rehabilitative Audiology, Past-Coordinator for the American Speech, Language and Hearing Association (ASHA) Special Interest Group 7: Aural Rehabilitation and Its Instrumentation. She currently serves a audiology discipline coordinator for the UCONN LEND and co-investigator for the UCONN Pediatric LEND Supplement grant.
ASHA DISCLOSURE:
Financial -
No relevant financial relationship exists.
Nonfinancial -
• Has a Professional
relationship for Board membership.
• Has a Professional
relationship for Board membership.
AAA DISCLOSURE:
Financial -
Financial relationship with University of Connecticut, Hearing Rehabilitation Foundation, Eastern CT HLAA Chapter .
Nature: Faculty member
Board member
Boards member.
Nonfinancial -
No relevant nonfinancial relationship exists.