18th ANNUAL EARLY HEARING DETECTION & INTERVENTION MEETING
March 3-5, 2019 • Chicago, IL
Pathway to Amplification Technologies in Children Who Passed their Universal Newborn Hearing Screening
The Universal Newborn Hearing Screening (UNHS) has remarkable value in decreasing the average age of hearing loss identification (Dalzell et al., 2011; Vohr, Carty, Moore, & Letourneau, 1998); however, it is possible for a child to pass the newborn hearing screening with a mild, congenital hearing loss given the use of automated auditory brainstem response (AABR) testing and/or otoacoustic emissions (OAEs) in the 30-35 dB screening range (Kenna, 2015). In addition, there are many causes of delayed-onset congenital or acquired hearing loss that can occur in childhood, including hearing loss associated with genetic mutations, infectious diseases, anatomic abnormalities, trauma, and ototoxicity. Approximately 40% of patients in the Amplification Program at Boston Children’s Hospital (BCH) passed their UNHS bilaterally. In the BCH Cochlear Implant Program, 18% of patients with known UNHS outcomes passed in both ears. Among the estimated 51% of permanent childhood hearing loss identified by post-neonatal care pathways, hearing loss is most commonly identified due to school hearing screenings and parental concerns for hearing (Dedhia et al., 2013; Watkin & Baldwin, 2011). The purpose of this study is to further understand the pathway to amplification technologies (hearing aids, cochlear implants, and bone-anchored hearing systems) for children in the Amplification, Bone Anchored Hearing Systems, and Cochlear Implant Programs at BCH who passed their UNHS bilaterally. This study addresses the average age of hearing loss identification and the average time between hearing loss identification and amplification technology fitting in this population. Additionally, we analyzed the degree, type, configuration, and causes of hearing loss. Lastly, we reviewed the types of devices used by these patients as it relates to their cause of hearing loss.
- The participant will develop knowledge of the mechanisms by which pediatric users of amplification technologies who passed their UNHS were identified with hearing loss.
- The participant will identify the degree, type, and configurations of hearing loss identified in pediatric users of amplification who passed their UNHS.
- The participant will gain insight into the types of amplification technologies utilized by children who passed their UNHS as they relate to the cause and description of hearing loss.
Poster:
18878_10148JaneRose.pdf
18878_10148KateBroughton.pdf
Presenter: Kate Broughton
Kate Broughton is an audiology extern at Boston Children's Hospital and is working towards her Au.D. at Northeastern University in Boston, MA. She is committed to her goal of becoming a pediatric audiologist to continue helping children and families overcome communication barriers.
ASHA DISCLOSURE:
Financial -
• Receives Other financial benefit for Other activities from LEND.
Nonfinancial -
No relevant nonfinancial relationship exist.
Jane Rose is an audiology extern at Boston Children's Hospital who is passionate about working with pediatric audiology patients and being engaged in clinical research. She is earning her Au.D. from the University of Maryland, College Park. After graduation, she hopes to work as a pediatric audiologist and continue her involvement with relevant research projects.
ASHA DISCLOSURE:
Financial -
• Receives Other financial benefit for Other activities from LEND.
Nonfinancial -
No relevant nonfinancial relationship exist.
Emily Trittschuh is a 4th year audiology extern at Boston Children's Hospital who enjoys working with children of all ages and their families. She is working towards completing her Au.D. at Rush University in Chicago, IL. Her career goals include becoming a pediatric audiologist in a large medical setting with hopes of teaching undergraduate or Au.D. courses in the future.
ASHA DISCLOSURE:
Financial -
• Receives Other financial benefit for Other activities from LEND.
Nonfinancial -
No relevant nonfinancial relationship exist.
Derek Stiles has been Director of Audiology at Boston Children's Hospital since 2014, and Director of the Center for Communication Enhancement since 2021. He leads a team of 30 audiologists, serving 20,000 patients a year across 6 clinical sites in Eastern Massachusetts. He also oversees the directors of the SLP, Feeding & Swallowing, Augmentative Communication, Autism Language, Deaf & Hard-of-Hearing, and Balance Programs at Boston Children's Hospital.
ASHA DISCLOSURE:
Financial -
No relevant financial relationship exist.
Nonfinancial -
No relevant nonfinancial relationship exist.