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ABSTRACT INFORMATION
Title: 'Loss to Follow-Up Breakdown: Unresponsive v. Refusals After Screening and Diagnosis' Track: 6 - Follow-up, Tracking and Data Management Keyword(s): Loss to follow up, unresponsive, parent refusals, data, social determinants Learning Objectives: Understand the difference in family characteristics between unresponsive versus refusal after not passing newborn screen Understand the loss to follow up population after diagnosis of hearing impairment that do not receive intervention Understand the parent perspective and how to use parent support groups to better engage families and conduct targeted messaging to improve follow up Abstract: Parent refusals and families who are unresponsive are a challenge for Early Hearing Detection and Intervention (EHDI) programs. Although states have made great strides in reducing loss to follow up after screening and diagnosis, EHDI programs struggle in improving families understanding of the importance of following up to a failed newborn hearing screen, reducing the number of families who opt out of screening all together, and who decline intervention services after diagnosis of hearing impairment. To better understand these groups, infants who were considered unresponsive and parental refusal that were born in 2014, as well as infants who were diagnosed with hearing impairment that did not receive intervention services, will be evaluated on determinants including, but not limited to maternal age, maternal level of education, marital status, race and ethnicity, infant birth weight to better understand similarities within groups. Preliminary analysis of children in 2013 revealed that there were differences in maternal education and race when comparing infants with caregivers that refused the screening versus those that were unresponsive. We anticipate that this information will be helpful for states in tailoring messaging to reduce parent refusals and families who are unresponsive. There will be a discussion from the parent perspective on why families do not follow up with recommendations and how the EHDI program can improve messaging to reduce loss to follow up. 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
-             ASHA DISCLOSURE: Financial - Nonfinancial - Kelly Hermanns - Primary Presenter,Author Georgia DPH      Credentials: Doctorate of Audiology Masters in Public Health       Kelly Hermanns is Georgia’s Early Hearing Detection and Intervention (EHDI) Coordinator. Kelly holds a Master’s in Public Health from Georgia State University, Doctorate of Audiology from the University of Wisconsin and her Bachelor of Arts Degree in Speech, Language, and Hearing Science from the University of Colorado. Kelly began her career as a pediatric audiologist at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, which is where she became passionate about early identification of hearing impairment for at risk populations. In 2011, she enrolled in Georgia State University to obtain her Master’s in Public Health and began contracting with Georgia’s Department of Public Health to assist with the EHDI program. Kelly is committed to improving identification of hearing impairment and systems of intervention in Georgia.       ASHA DISCLOSURE: Financial - Nonfinancial - Terri Patterson - Co-Presenter,Author GA Hands & Voices      Credentials: B.A.       Terri's experience as a former Early Intervention Parent Educator and a parent of a child with hearing loss has led her into the role of Executive Director of Georgia Hands & Voices. She and her husband, Matt, have two children: daughter Molly, and son, Riley, (who was identified with profound bilateral hearing loss at two months). Degreed in Social Sciences/Psychology, Terri is the Committee Chair for the Georgia Stakeholder’s UNHS Program. She also sits on the National EHDI 2011 Planning Committee, and is co-chair of the CDC’s Early Hearing Detection & Intervention Parent-to-Parent Subcommittee, as well as serving as parent representative to the AAHBEI (American Association for Home-Based Early Interventionists) governing board. Terri is co-author of the DECISION GUIDE TO COMMUNICATION CHOICES published by the CDC, and has spoken a numerous conferences including a plenary presentation at the National Summit on Deaf Education in 2008.       ASHA DISCLOSURE: Financial - No relevant financial relationship exist. Nonfinancial - No relevant nonfinancial relationship exist. Deshonda Washington - Co-Presenter,Author Georgia Hands & Voices      Credentials: BA       Deshonda Washington is the Executive Director of GA Hands & Voices (H&V) and Parent Guide for GA H&V Guide By Your Side. Having a child with a hearing loss has prepared her for a lifelong journey of advocating for the needs of her daughter, Lauren. She is passionate about supporting Deaf/Hard of Hearing families across the state of Georgia. Deshonda has been trained as an educational advocate through the H&V Advocacy Support and Training (ASTra) program; she participates on the H&V HQ ASTra approval committee and has presented these supports around our state. Her ultimate goal is to empower parents of children with disabilities and ensure our D/HH children reach their highest potential. Deshonda is married with three children Ashanti, Lauren and Lorenzo Jr. and resides in Marietta, GA. She truly believes in the H&V motto, “What works for the child is what makes the choice right.”       ASHA DISCLOSURE: Financial - Nonfinancial -