2026 Early Hearing Detection & Intervention Conference
March 15-17, 2026 • Jacksonville, FL
3/11/2025 | 3:30 PM - 4:00 PM | Remote ABR Services on Cape Cod; Three Years Later | 317/318
Remote ABR Services on Cape Cod; Three Years Later
In 2020, the Massachusetts Department of Public Health received a grant from the AMCHP to explore the feasibility of remote diagnostic ABR testing as a strategy to reduce loss-to-follow-up after newborn hearing screenings in rural communities. Leveraging a hub-and-spoke model, we established a partnership between Boston Children's Hospital as the diagnostic hub and Cape Cod Hospital as the rural spoke. The success of the pilot program led to the permanent integration of remote ABR testing between the two institutions.
With over three years of operation and more than 70 infants tested, our program provides valuable insights into both the implementation and sustainability of remote diagnostic services. This presentation will delve into the logistical challenges, including technological barriers, staffing coordination, and billing complexities, while highlighting the benefits of improving access to early hearing loss identification. Our experience offers a roadmap for other clinics and EHDI programs considering remote diagnostic testing to enhance service delivery in underserved areas.
- Explain the essential components required to set up a remote diagnostic ABR program, including technology, personnel, and inter-hospital collaboration.
- Describe the benefits of remote ABR diagnostics in enhancing early detection of hearing loss in children, particularly in underserved or rural areas.
- Analyze the challenges and propose solutions related to technology, personnel management, and billing processes in the implementation of remote ABR services.
Presentation:
3545975_18123TamarGomes.pdf
Handouts:
Handout is not Available
Transcripts:
CART transcripts are NOT YET available, but will be posted shortly after the conference
Presenters/Authors
Derek Stiles
(Primary Presenter,Co-Author), Boston Children's Hospital, derek.stiles@childrens.harvard.edu;
Derek Stiles has been Director of Audiology at Boston Children's Hospital since 2014, and Director of the Center for Communication Enhancement since 2021. He leads a team of 30 audiologists, serving 20,000 patients a year across 6 clinical sites in Eastern Massachusetts. He also oversees the directors of the SLP, Feeding & Swallowing, Augmentative Communication, Autism Language, Deaf & Hard-of-Hearing, and Balance Programs at Boston Children's Hospital.
ASHA DISCLOSURE:
Financial -
No relevant financial relationship exists.
Nonfinancial -
No relevant nonfinancial relationship exists.
AAA DISCLOSURE:
Financial -
Financial relationship with Boston Children's Hospital.
Nature: Salaried employee.
Nonfinancial -
No relevant nonfinancial relationship exists.
Tamar Gomes
(Co-Presenter,Co-Author), Boston Children's Hospital, tamar.gomes@childrens.harvard.edu;
Tamar Gomes, Au.D. is the Specialty Audiologist in Electrophysiology at Boston Children’s Hospital (BCH). She provides diagnostic and amplification audiology services for pediatric patients and focuses on current trends in electrophysiology. She is involved in audiology documentation software development, healthcare data management and informatics. She trains and supports students and staff in electrophysiology and documentation.
ASHA DISCLOSURE:
Financial -
• Receives Grants for Other activities from AMCHP.
• Receives Salary,Grants for Employment,Other activities from AMCHP; Boston Children's Hospital.
• Receives Salary for Employment from Boston Children's Hospital.
Nonfinancial -
No relevant nonfinancial relationship exists.
AAA DISCLOSURE:
Financial -
Financial relationship with AMCHP
Boston Children's Hospital .
Nature: AMCHP Grant funded startup trial for program being presented on
I am a full time Boston Children's Hospital Employee/Audiologist.
Nonfinancial -
No relevant nonfinancial relationship exists.