2026 Early Hearing Detection & Intervention Conference
March 15-17, 2026 • Jacksonville, FL
3/16/2026 | 3:10 PM - 3:40 PM | Homebirth Hearing Screening - Nevada's Experience, Unique situations with unique solutions | Daytona
Homebirth Hearing Screening - Nevada's Experience, Unique situations with unique solutions
Home birth hearing screening rates for most jurisdictions do not match the rates from hospital and birthing centers. The reasons are varied within each jurisdiction though there are some common barriers. Our evaluation indicates midwives and midwife group practices can rarely afford screening equipment, hospitals which perform screenings for their inpatient infants do not offer hearing screening as an outpatient procedure, and audiologists and ENT physicians offer screening but often at a cost above new families household budgets.
The presenter will share a variety of approaches implemented through the Nevada EHDI program and discuss their pros and cons. Their latest approach is to partner with an Early Intervention facility to screen home birth infants. Nevada EHDI's endeavors and successes may be duplicated or enhanced in other jurisdictions to produce similar results.
- Participant will be able to evaluate their home birth hearing screening processes from the Nevada home birth challenges and sucesses.
- Participant will be able to develop a plan to improve their home birth hearing screening percentages.
- Participant will be able to develop a plan to build and improve relationships with midwife providers.
Presentation:
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Transcripts:
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Presenters/Authors
Perry Smith
(Primary Presenter), Nevada Division of Public and Behavioral Health, pgsmith@health.nv.gov;
Perry Smith has over thirty years of experience managing health and medical related programs and services within hospital/medical centers and in public health. He has been accountable for the fiscal management, business direction, program implementation, and human resources for these services ensuring efficient and effective performance. He has directed the work of clinical, non-clinical and professional staff to providing high quality client centered services. He has public speaking experience, addressing groups from youth, students, and medical professionals. He taught graduate and undergraduate level courses at the University of Nevada-Reno as an adjunct faculty. Mr. Smith has served on a variety of committees and boards ranging from a medical center institutional review board (IRB) to a prevent child abuse non-profit. He is currently the program coordinator for the Early Hearing Detection and Intervention Program within the Nevada Division of Public and Behavioral Health.
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.