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ABSTRACT INFORMATION
Title: 'Collaboration Between WIC and EHDI to Improve Follow-Up of Newborn Hearing Screening in Greater Cincinnati ' Track: 6 - Follow-up, Tracking and Data Management Keyword(s): Loss to follow-up, follow-up systems, medical home Learning Objectives: Discuss impact of barriers to follow-up Discuss methods of re-screening and their effectiveness Describe effectiveness of a WIC program collborative for re-screening Abstract: Background: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) data from 2010 indicated 39.3% of children in the US with failed newborn hearing screening are considered lost to follow-up or lost to documentation for diagnosis. In 2010 in Ohio, 45% of infants who did not pass their hearing screening either were not seen again or were not documented to have follow-up testing (LTFU). The goal of achieving diagnosis of at-risk newborns before they reach 3 months of age could be realized by mobilizing effective community systems that support families at risk. Goals: The overall goal of this proposal is to improve follow-up rates of infants who are referred from newborn hearing screening by implementing a follow-up re-screening program for at-risk children in WIC programs. Our secondary aim is to test whether the intervention decreases the time to receipt of rescreening or a diagnostic audiologic assessment if needed. Methods: Infants from targeted intervention hospitals and comparison groups sampled from similar birthing hospitals in the region were offered enrollment to test our hypothesis that a collaborative WIC hearing re-screening program significantly decreases the attrition rate of infants who fail newborn hearing screening. Results: The proportion of infants who have followed up in the WIC study was 87%, compared to the comparison Cincinnati benchmark of 55%. The average age of re-screening for infants referred from newborn screening and enrolled in the study (n=20) was 0.9 months, compared to 3.8 months for comparison infants prior to the study start. Barriers to care identified were transportation, primary language, understanding need for follow-up, distance and work schedules. Conclusions: Including WIC programs in EHDI systems for follow-up can significantly decrease loss to follow-up for newborn hearing screening and lessen socioeconomic barriers to care. 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
Lisa Hunter - Primary Presenter Cincinnati Children's Hospital      Credentials: PhD       Lisa Hunter is Scientific Director of Audiology and Professor at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center and the University of Cincinnati. She collaborates on a number of funded studies including evaluating physiologic factors associated with risks for hearing loss and understanding mechanisms for improved follow-up with newborn hearing screening in high risk famlies. She is a faculty with the Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental and related Disabilities at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center.       ASHA DISCLOSURE: Financial - Receives Salary for Employment from Cincinnati Children's Hospital.   Receives Grants for Other activities from Centers for Disease Control.   Nonfinancial - No relevant nonfinancial relationship exist. Jareen Meinzen-Derr - Author Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center      Credentials: PhD, MPH       Dr. Meinzen-Derr is quantitative epidemiologist at the Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center. She has focused her research on outcomes of children who are deaf or hard of hearing, and specifically those who have additional developmental disabilities.       ASHA DISCLOSURE: Financial - No relevant financial relationship exist. Nonfinancial - No relevant nonfinancial relationship exist. Susan Wiley - Author Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center      Credentials: M.D., Developmental Pediatrician, Professor       Dr. Susan Wiley is a developmental pediatrician with expertise in children who are deaf/hard of hearing. She has many years of experience serving children with multiple disabilities.       ASHA DISCLOSURE: Financial - No relevant financial relationship exist. Nonfinancial - No relevant nonfinancial relationship exist. Scott Wexelblatt - Author Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center      Credentials: MD      Other Affiliations: University of Cincinnati       Dr. Scott Wexelblatt is the Medical Director, Regional Newborn Services and Assistant Professor, University of Cincinnati Department of Pediatrics. He is a Co-PI on a study of newborn hearing screening and loss to follow-up.       ASHA DISCLOSURE: Financial - No relevant financial relationship exist. Nonfinancial - No relevant nonfinancial relationship exist. Laura Rolfes - Author Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center      Credentials: B.A.       Laura Rolfes is a Clinical Research Coordinator on studies of newborn hearing screening and follow-up at Cincinnati Children's Hospital. She provides rescreening for newborns. She has many years of experience in basic and clinical research.       ASHA DISCLOSURE: Financial - Nonfinancial - Sara DiStefano - Co-Presenter Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center      Credentials: BA, Audiology, AuD Candidate      Other Affiliations: Arizona State University       Sara DeStefano is an AuD student in Audiology at the Arizona State University and a LEND trainee at Cincinnati Children's Hospital. She is a team member on this project to assess community needs to improve follow-up for NHS. Sara was awarded one of six William Austin Starkey Scholarships. The goal of the program is to support strong candidates pursuing clinical, teaching and research careers in audiology. Sara is a fellow on the Interdisciplinary Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental and related Disabilities (LEND) team.       ASHA DISCLOSURE: Financial - No relevant financial relationship exist. Nonfinancial - No relevant nonfinancial relationship exist.