2026 Early Hearing Detection & Intervention Conference
March 15-17, 2026 • Jacksonville, FL
3/11/2025 | 11:30 AM - 12:00 PM | Risk Factors and Hearing Loss: Parent and Medical Home Education | 302
Risk Factors and Hearing Loss: Parent and Medical Home Education
Studies show that 1-2/1,000 infants are found to be deaf or hard of hearing at birth. However, of the infants that pass newborn hearing screening another 1-2/1,000 will later be diagnosed with permanent hearing loss. A significant number of infants that pass newborn hearing screening are at risk for late onset or progressive hearing loss. The 2019 Joint Committee on Infant Hearing (JCIH) revised and expanded the list of risk factor recommendations associated with late onset hearing loss. In response to this change, NC-EHDI developed a risk factor education card for parents. The card is given to parents of infants who were discharged from the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) that passed the newborn hearing screening and had one or more risk factors that can lead to hearing loss after birth. The card allows the NICU staff to check and discuss the risk factor(s) the child has and the recommended follow-up guidelines with the parents. Families are encouraged to take the card to their infant’s first visit with the doctor and ask the doctor about seeing a pediatric audiologist according to the time frame recommended by the JCIH. In addition, a medical home training was developed to update providers on JCIH recommendations to educate them on changes and to facilitate follow with audiology as warranted. The 15-minute recorded training is offered to medical home providers for independent viewing. This presentation will focus on the development, dissemination and evaluation of the risk factor card and provider training. Lessons learned and next steps will be discussed.
- Participants will be able to describe the development of a provider education tool using quality improvement methodology.
- Participants will be able to describe the development and imple of a parent education tool using quality improvement methodology.
- Participants will be able to discuss ways to educate providers and families about risk factors for late-onset or progressive hearing loss and need for audiological follow-up.
Presentation:
3545975_18246LindaBowen.pdf
Handouts:
Handout is not Available
Transcripts:
CART transcripts are NOT YET available, but will be posted shortly after the conference
Presenters/Authors
Linda Bowen
(Primary Presenter,Co-Presenter,Author), NC DHHS, Division of Child and Family Well Being, EHDI Program, linda.bowen@dhhs.nc.gov;
Linda Bowen is a Speech Language Pathologist with the NC EHDI program, with 29 years of experience in early intervention. She began her work with NC EHDI in 2000, with the inception of Newborn Hearing Screening in North Carolina. Linda lives in eastern NC, where resources for diagnosis are limited secondary to low population density and few providers. She enjoys working to facilitate services for underserved areas of the state to ensure the best outcomes for all children and families
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.
Charlotte Destino
(Co-Presenter,Author), NC DHHS, Division of Child and Family Well Being, EHDI Program, charlotte.destino@dhhs.nc.gov;
Charlotte Destino has been a Regional EHDI Consultant with the NC-EHDI Program for 17 years.
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.
Jude Williams
(Co-Presenter,Author), NC DHHS, Division of Child and Family Well-Being, EHDI Program, jude.williams@dhhs.nc.gov;
Jude has worked with the NC-EHDI Program for 15.5 years. Jude has her BS in Biology and MPH in Health Behavior/Health Education.
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.
Sandra Hill Markland
(Co-Presenter,Author,Co-Author), North Carolina EHDI, Sandy.Markland@dhhs.nc.gov;
I received my undergraduate and graduate degrees at UNC Greensboro in Speech/language Pathology. Worked in early intervention for 22 years and have spent the last 10 years working with the EHDI program.
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.