2026 Early Hearing Detection & Intervention Conference
March 15-17, 2026 • Jacksonville, FL
3/11/2025 | 11:30 AM - 12:00 PM | Updating the Newborn Hearing Screening Curriculum (NHSTC): Key Developments | 301
Updating the Newborn Hearing Screening Curriculum (NHSTC): Key Developments
The Newborn Hearing Screening Training Curriculum (NHSTC) is a key quality improvement initiative provided by the National Center for Hearing Assessment and Management (NCHAM) on infanthearing.org. It is an online, competency-based training program for newborn hearing screeners to help ensure efficient and accurate screenings. Since its inception in 2012, more than 30,000 people, nationally, have completed the course. It has gone through several iterations to ensure it stays updated and relevant. The NHSTC is utilized by state EHDI programs, outsourcing companies and hospitals. Several state EHDI Coordinators have utilized it as a quality improvement tool in which access to data has allowed them to monitor participant outcomes.
Several updates are in progress including the completion of the community partners version (NHSTC-CP); a new curriculum for newborn hearing screeners in out-of-hospital settings; such as pediatrician and PCP offices, community health clinics, county health departments, birthing centers, midwives and home births and whomever may be conducting out-of-hospital and outpatient newborn hearing screening. In addition, the 2020 version of the NHSTC is undergoing a refresh and separate stand-alone curriculums for OAE and A-ABR are being developed.
This presentation will provide an overview of upcoming changes, enhancements, updates and a review of the data available to state programs.
- Describe how the NHSTC is being used as a quality improvement tool in EHDI programs
- Describe how the NHSTC is being updated
- Describe how the NHSTC-CP will benefit screeners in community settings
Presentation:
3545975_18390RandiWinston-Gerson.pdf
Handouts:
Handout is not Available
Transcripts:
CART transcripts are NOT YET available, but will be posted shortly after the conference
Presenters/Authors
Daniel Ladner
(Co-Presenter), Utah State University, Daniel.Ladner@usu.edu;
Daniel Ladner is a software developer on HI*TRACK 4 and IT systems administrator at the National Center for Hearing Assessment and Management at Utah State University since 2003. Daniel’s fascination with all aspects of computers and technology inspires him to enthusiastically research the ever-expanding edge of computer technology. Supporting NCHAM’s EHDI efforts, including the development of HI*TRACK EHDI tracking and follow-up software, for the last seven years has been challenging and fulfilling work.
ASHA DISCLOSURE:
Financial -
Nonfinancial -
AAA DISCLOSURE:
Financial -
Nonfinancial -
Randi Winston-Gerson
(Primary Presenter), NCHAM, randi.winston@infanthearing.org;
Randi consults on a variety of EHDI related projects with the National Center for Hearing Assessment and Management (NCHAM). She maintains her role as program manager for NCHAM’s Newborn Hearing Screening Training Curriculum (NHSTC), the EHDI-PALS Directory and the Newborn Hearing Screening Virtual Site Visit (VSV) Program. She has co-authored several research articles involving newborn and early childhood screening.
From 1998– 2015 she maintained the role of consulting audiologist for The EAR Foundation of Arizona and Arizona's EHDI Program which included the implementation of newborn hearing and early childhood screening programs. The emphasis of her work included program quality, systems development, and best practices. During that time she served on NCHAM’s Technical Assistance Network, assisting states in Region X with their EHDI program development efforts.
From 2015-2018 she served as Hearing Screening Program Manager at Audiology Systems.
Randi holds doctorate of audiology, is state licensed in Arizona and a member of AAA and ASHA. She serves as co-director of the Arizona Special Olympics Healthy Hearing Program.
ASHA DISCLOSURE:
Financial -
No relevant financial relationship exists.
Nonfinancial -
No relevant nonfinancial relationship exists.
AAA DISCLOSURE:
Financial -
Financial relationship with NCHAM.
Nature: .
Nonfinancial -
No relevant nonfinancial relationship exists.