2023 Early Hearing Detection & Intervention Conference
March 5-7, 2023 • Cincinnati, OH
DUKE ENERGY CONVENTION CENTER
The clinical challenge of dual diagnoses: autism spectrum disorder plus either auditory neuropathy or sensorineural hearing loss
When Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and an auditory disorder co-exist in a child, the clinician is doubly challenged to distinguish the relative contribution of each component to the child’s developmental behaviors for listening and language. To develop an appropriate plan of intervention, both parts of the dual diagnoses must be accurately specified. Hearing loss and ASD have very similar behavioral presentations in early childhood and can interfere with habilitative and therapeutic efforts. This poster presentation will discuss the collaborative diagnostic elements necessary to establish a dual diagnosis of ASD and either sensorineural hearing loss or auditory neuropathy. It will also discuss how audiologists and other early intervention providers must collaborate to identify respective signs and symptoms. A combination of physiological and behavioral measures, the child’s reactions and responses to auditory amplification, and developmental monitoring are together essential for accurate diagnoses. The intervention approach to dual-diagnosis children must be individualized based on the relative contribution of the autism component versus the auditory disorder component. This poster will discuss the necessity of an interdisciplinary team and the timelines, based on our clinical experience, of when an accurate diagnosis may be established.
- Identify in a timely manner ASD behaviors that interfere with developmental auditory listening, receptive language, and expressive language behaviors.
- Organize an interdisciplinary team to complement hearing services in the identification and intervention of ASD in children with auditory disorders.
- Discuss the differences in challenges, behaviors and strategies for a child with a diagnosis of ASD with sensorineural hearing loss versus a child with auditory neuropathy.
Poster:
3420032_15620JulietteMurphy.pdf
Presenter: Juliette Murphy
Juliette Murphy is the current 4th-year Audiology extern at the University of Miami’s Mailman Center for Child Development by way of the Nova Southeastern University Audiology doctoral program. Currently, she is involved in the outpatient clinic performing comprehensive hearing evaluations and amplification services for pediatric patients of all ages, auditory brainstem response evaluations, immittance, and otoacoustic emission evaluations, Auditory Processing Disorder evaluations, as well as working in the well-baby nursery and NICU at Holtz Children's Hospital participating in the Universal Newborn Hearing Screening Program. Along with clinical duties, she participates in the Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental and Related Disabilities (LEND) at the Mailman Center for Child Development. Juliette hopes to work towards creating an interactive and integrated pediatric care model for identification and intervention-related services for the D/deaf and hard-of-hearing community.
ASHA DISCLOSURE:
Financial -
No relevant financial relationship exist.
Nonfinancial -
No relevant nonfinancial relationship exist.
Robert C. Fifer, Ph.D. is currently an Associate Professor and Director of Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology at the Mailman Center for Child Development, Department of Pediatrics, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine. He received his B.S. degree from the University of Nebraska at Omaha in Speech-Language Pathology with a minor in Deaf Education. His M.A. degree is from Central Michigan University in Audiology. And his Ph.D. degree is from Baylor College of Medicine in Audiology and Bioacoustics. Dr. Fifer’s clinical and research interests focus on the areas of auditory evoked potentials, central auditory processing, early detection of hearing loss in children, and auditory anatomy and physiology. Additional responsibilities at the state level have included serving as a consultant to the Florida Department of Health’s Children’s Medical Services, Florida Medicaid, audiology representative to the Genetics and Newborn Screening Advisory Council, and audiology representative to the State EHDI Advisory Council. In 2016 he was part of an interdisciplinary team to study the long-term effects of the Zika virus. And in 2017, he became the project director for a HRSA grant to establish healthcare infrastructure and resource materials concerning the Zika virus for healthcare providers in the U.S. Virgin Islands.
ASHA DISCLOSURE:
Financial -
Nonfinancial -
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.