| ABSTRACT INFORMATION |
| Presenter Information: |
| Presenter 1: |
Name: Karen Munoz
Affiliation:
Karen Muñoz, Ed.D., CCC-A is an assistant professor of audiology at Utah State University in the Department of Communicative Disorders. Her focus is pediatric audiology and she has been actively involved in efforts to support the early identification and management of hearing loss in children. In addition to her faculty appointment, Karen also serves as a deputy director of the National Center for Hearing Assessment and Management at Utah State University. Karen’s background includes 15 years of pediatric audiology experience. She is involved in outreach to improve pediatric audiology services at the local, state, national, and international level.
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| Presenter 2: |
Name: Sebastian Malek
Affiliation:
Sebastian Malek, is an ENT doctor. He works at the Hospital México in Costa Rica and is coordinating an EHDI program in Costa Rica. He is also the president of the ADIS Association, a non profit association founded to support the EHDI program and focus on early rehabilitation of children with hearing loss.
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| Presenter 3: |
Name: Louis Cooper
Affiliation:
Louis Z Cooper, MD is Professor Emeritus of Pediatrics at Columbia University, New York, NY. He has a long history of research and policy development on vaccines and services for children with special health needs. As President of the American Academy of Pediatrics, in 2001, he created its Task force on Early Hearing Detection and Intervention.
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| Presenter 4: |
Name: Karl White
Affiliation:
Karl White is a Professor of Psychology at Utah State University and the founding Director of the National Center for Hearing Assessment and Management (NCHAM). He has conducted numerous research projects and has published extensively about the issues and evidence related to implementing and improving the efficacy of Early Hearing Detection and Intervention (EHDI) programs. Projects currently underway at NCHAM are focused on developing more effective hearing screening and intervention programs through research, improving public health information systems, training and technical assistance, and information dissemination. Dr. White has hundreds of publications and presentations at scholarly meetings, and has been an invited speaker to 32 countries where he has assisted in the implementation of newborn hearing screening and intervention programs.
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| Author Information: |
| Author 1: |
Name: Karen Munoz
Affiliation: NCHAM
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| Author 2: |
Name: Sebastian Malek
Affiliation: Hospital Mexico
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| Author 3: |
Name: Louis Cooper
Affiliation: AAP
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| Author 4: |
Name: Karl White
Affiliation: NCHAM
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| Abstract Information: |
| Title: |
Development of the Costa Rican EHDI Program |
| Primary Track: |
1-EHDI Program Enhancement
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| Keyword(s): |
hearing, screening, Costa Rica, EHDI |
Abstract: |
Interest in developing an EHDI program in Costa Rica started in 2006; steps are being taken toward the provision of newborn hearing screening and follow-up services to better serve children born with hearing loss. The process to develop an EHDI program began with an on-site needs assessment in September of 2006. The team visited hospitals and intervention programs to learn about current services. In February 2007 six Costa Rican physicians came to St. Louis, to learn more about hearing screening, diagnosis, and intervention procedures. This was an opportunity to observe programs “in action” and discuss next steps for Costa Rica. Following the St. Louis visit, the team in Costa Rica has been working to develop the infrastructure to support and sustain an EHDI program. Next steps include: (1) purchase of screening, diagnostic assessment, and hearing aid equipment, (2) initiation of a pilot project in San Jose, Costa Rica (3) initiation of early intervention and education services for children born with hearing loss, and (4) training of existing personnel to perform screening and diagnostic procedures for infants, fitting of hearing aids, and early education services. The pilot project will last for one year and screen approximately 10,000 babies. It is estimated that 700 babies will require further testing and approximately 30 will be identified with permanent hearing loss. The referral processes will be refined and there will be planning for expansion and sustainability.
This presentation will describe Costa Rica’s journey toward development of an EHDI program, the challenges and successes, and the lessons learned along the way.
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| Presentation(s): |
Not Available
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| Handouts: |
Not Available
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