2023 Early Hearing Detection & Intervention Conference
March 5-7, 2023 • Cincinnati, OH
DUKE ENERGY CONVENTION CENTER
Recovery of Functional Hearing Abilities with Auditory Neuropathy
We will present and discuss three cases of auditory neuropathy that demonstrated recovery of functional hearing abilities. Each child began showing no ABR response and no behavioral response to sound stimulation. Over the course of the first 18 months of life, behavioral responses to sound improved, and evoked potentials demonstrated generally improved responses despite persistent abnormal characteristics. The final audiometric result in case 1 was near normal hearing sensitivity. Case 2 demonstrated normal bilateral sensitivity but regressed to a mild hearing loss. Case 3, thus far, is showing improvement to near normal hearing sensitivity. The discussion will focus on possible explanations of how these positive changes could occur and the complications for each of the three child brought about through a residual diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder.
- Discuss the dynamic elements of auditory neuropathy
- Implement strategies for behavioral hearing responses rather then dependence on auditory evoked potentials
- Identify the potential complexity of dual diagnoses of auditory neuropathy and autism spectrum disorder
Poster:
3420032_15489RobertFifer.pdf
Presenter: Robert Fifer
Robert C. Fifer, is the Director of Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology at the Mailman Center for Child Development, University of Miami School of Medicine. He received his B.S. from the University of Nebraska in Speech-Language Pathology with a minor in Deaf Education. His M.A. is from Central Michigan University in Audiology, and his Ph.D. is from Baylor College of Medicine in Audiology and Bioacoustics. Dr. Fifer’s clinical and research interests include auditory evoked potentials, central auditory processing, early detection of hearing loss in children, and auditory anatomy and physiology. He is a Past-President of the Florida Association of Speech-Language Pathologists and Audiologists, a member of ASHA’s Health Care Economics Committee, and the ASHA representative to the American Medical Association’s Health Care Professions Advisory Committee for the Relative Value Utilization Committee in addition to being ASHA’s representative to the AMA’s Practice Expense Advisory Committee.
ASHA DISCLOSURE:
Financial -
• Receives Salary for Employment from University of Miami.
Nonfinancial -
No relevant nonfinancial relationship exist.
Aliana I. Romero, AuD is a pediatric audiologist at the University of Miami Mailman Center for Child Development. In the outpatient clinic, she is responsible for performing diagnostic hearing evaluations, immittance and otoacoustic emissions testing, auditory brainstem response evaluations, and Auditory Processing Disorder evaluations. She also performs hearing aid consultations, fittings, verification and troubleshooting. As an audiology extern, she completed the curriculum in Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental and related Disabilities (LEND) at the Mailman Center for Child Development. She works with Early Steps, Florida’s early intervention system and participates in the Universal Newborn Hearing Screening Program at Jackson Memorial Hospital. She has completed the University of Miami Emerging Transformational Leadership Program and is currently a member of the AUCD Leadership Academy 2022-2023 cohort. Aliana is dedicated to educating and mentoring students/future leaders and transforming systems of care for people with developmental disabilities in the community.
ASHA DISCLOSURE:
Financial -
No relevant financial relationship exist.
Nonfinancial -
No relevant nonfinancial relationship exist.