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ABSTRACT INFORMATION
Title: 'Infant Hearing Decisions: An Early Intervention Tool' Track: 7 - Family Perspectives and Support Keyword(s): decision making, informed choice Learning Objectives: Identify three areas reported to be of concern for families of children with hearing loss Describe five basic steps in the decision making process Use Infant Hearing Decisions as a resource when working with families of children who are deaf/hard of hearing Abstract: Estimates of the prevalence of congenital/prelingual hearing loss (HL) in infants are 3/1000 for well babies and 3/100 for neonatal intensive care (NICU) babies. More than 12,000 infants with HL are born per year in the United States. Late identification and intervention of infant HL has been linked to life-long deficits in speech and language development, social-emotional development, and academic progress. Research demonstrates the role of early hearing detection and intervention (EHDI) programs in reducing the negative consequences of untreated congenital/prelingual HL. Timely decision-making (DM) and parental involvement with this process facilitates language development, early reading skills, and social-emotional development. This family-centered philosophy recognizes that family members are the primary decision makers regarding their child’s best interest. Effective DM skills contribute to increased confidence, parental empowerment, and self-efficacy leading to successful long-term outcomes for infants with HL. The importance of communication and mutual support among family members of infants with HL is widely recognized; however, information sharing among parents and family members is often difficult. Barriers to information sharing include a combination of social issues, work schedules, geographic dispersion of families, and a greater reliance on more individualized information resources, such as telephone networks and computer and Web resources. Training and practice in the decision-making process can facilitate the intervention process and reduce intervention delays. The goal of this project was to develop and evaluate a DVD tool called Infant Hearing Decisions that will provide parents and family members of infants with hearing loss decision-making strategies regarding their child and the choices for education, communication, and technology use. Effectiveness was evaluated by conducting usability and performance tests with service providers and families. Pilot testing was conducted with 20 parents and family members of infants with hearing loss. Results of pre-and post-use questionnaires are presented. Demo copies of Infant Hearing Decisions will be provided. Presentation: This presentation has not yet been uploaded or the speaker has opted not to make the presentation available online. Handouts: Handout is not Available
PRESENTER(S) / AUTHOR(S) INFORMATION
Josh Spann - Author University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences      Credentials: B.S.       Josh Spann is a 3rd year Au.D. student in the Deparment of Audiology and Speech Pathology at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences.       ASHA DISCLOSURE: Financial - No relevant financial relationship exist. Nonfinancial - No relevant nonfinancial relationship exist. Nannette Nicholson - POC,Primary Presenter,Author University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences      Credentials: Ph.D., CCC-A      Other Affiliations: University of Arkansas at Little Rock Arkansas Children's Hospital       Nannette Nicholson is an Associate Professor and Director of Audiology in the Department of Audiology and Speech Pathology at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences and the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. In addition, she has an appointment at Arkansas Children's Hospital. She serves on the Arkansas Infant Hearing Advisory Board, and is on the Board of Directors for Arkansas Hands and Voices.       ASHA DISCLOSURE: Financial - No relevant financial relationship exist. Nonfinancial - No relevant nonfinancial relationship exist. Patti Martin - Co-Presenter,Author Arkansas Children's Hospital      Credentials: Ph.D. CCC-A F-AAA      Other Affiliations: NCHAM       Patti Martin, Ph.D., is the Director of Audiology and Speech Language Pathology at Arkansas Children’s Hospital (ACH). Her areas of expertise include infant screening/assessment, family support and program development. Her efforts with infant hearing screening began with a collaboration project to investigate the efficacy of TEOAEs as a newborn screening tool in the early 1990s and continue through her work on the board of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association Special Interest Division on Childhood Hearing Disorders and as the Family Support Consultant for NCHAM. She has chaired the Arkansas Board of Examiners in Speech Pathology and Audiology, the Arkansas Universal Newborn Hearing Screening, Tracking and Intervention Boardand the Natinoal Investing in Family Support Conference for the past four years. Dr. Martin’s ongoing passion centers around how professionals can help support families in improving the outcomes of children with hearing loss.       ASHA DISCLOSURE: Financial - No relevant financial relationship exist. Nonfinancial - No relevant nonfinancial relationship exist.