2026 Early Hearing Detection & Intervention Conference
March 15-17, 2026 • Jacksonville, FL
3/16/2026 | 10:05 AM - 10:35 AM | Barriers to Early Hearing Intervention Services: What can we do to improve child and family access? | City Terrace 11
Barriers to Early Hearing Intervention Services: What can we do to improve child and family access?
Twenty-five years after passage of federal EHDI legislation, the initial goal to provide a national framework for universal newborn hearing screening has largely been met. What remains is the need to more consistently address lost to follow-up once a child is identified. This session will examine lost to follow up issues that create barriers to diagnosis and initiation of appropriate services for identified children and their families. We will discuss and explore barriers related to providers, children, and families and how early intervention professionals and others might mitigate such barriers.
- Identify common medical provider barriers to timely provision of hearing care services for young children with hearing loss
- Review patient barriers that delay diagnosis or service delivery
- Discuss parent or family characteristics that complicate or impede initiation of early intervention services
Presentation:
View Presentation File
Handouts:
Handout is not Available
Transcripts:
CART transcripts are NOT YET available, but will be posted shortly after the conference
Presenters/Authors
Donna Sorkin
(Primary Presenter), American Cochlear Implant Alliance, dsorkin@acialliance.org;
Donna Sorkin is the executive director of the American Cochlear Implant Alliance, an organization whose mission is to advance access to the gift of hearing provided by cochlear implantation through research, advocacy and awareness. Prior to joining ACI Alliance, she was vice president for consumer affairs at Cochlear Americas, and also previously served as the executive director of the Hearing Loss Association of America and the AG Bell Association for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing. She experienced progressive hearing loss as an adult and has has been hearing with a cochlear implant for 30 years.
ASHA DISCLOSURE:
Financial -
• Receives Salary for Employment,Management position from American Cochlear Implant Alliance.
Nonfinancial -
No relevant nonfinancial relationship exists.
AAA DISCLOSURE:
Financial -
Financial relationship with American Cochlear Implant Alliance.
Nature: Employment.
Nonfinancial -
No relevant nonfinancial relationship exists.