2025 Early Hearing Detection & Intervention Conference
March 9-11, 2025 • Pittsburgh, PA
DAVID L. LAWRENCE CONVENTION CENTER
| Delaware Newborn Hearing Screening Collaborative Training Initiative
Delaware Newborn Hearing Screening Collaborative Training Initiative
Delaware’s Early Hearing Detection and Intervention (EHDI) program determined there was a need for a comprehensive newborn hearing screening training program to be developed. 3 years of DE Newborn Hearing Screening (NBHS) data trends showed increases in referral rates at birth facilities from 3% referral rate in 2020 to 6% referral rate in 2023. DE EDHI’s initial assessment revealed a noticeable increase in staff turnover and newly hired team members at multiple birth-hospitals with higher refer rates. It was determined that additional training, and education updated with learnings from the 2019 Position Statement were needed.
The training program’s goals to be presented included reducing false referral rates, the need for second screenings, and stress/anxiety for families. In Delaware, Nemours Children’s Health completes the majority of diagnostic hearing evaluations after an infant does not pass their newborn hearing screening. Standardized training across the facilities ensures that the screeners have the skills and education necessary to complete testing and obtain accurate results on each baby. Accurate screening results will reduce the need for unnecessary referrals to a diagnostic center. By reducing unnecessary referrals, the sole diagnostic center for the state, Nemours Children’s Health, Delaware would be able to maintain visit access for infants who have accurate referrals.
In 2024, EHDI and Nemours Children’s Health, Delaware began creating and implementing a NBHS training curriculum for use in our state’s birth facilities. This collaboration between Nemours and the State included the conducting of site visits were conducted to assess the needs of 3 of the 7 birth facilities. The sites were chosen by the state, and the aim of the needs assessment was to determine their strengths, weaknesses and needs for improvement. Comprehensive hands-on training was then developed and provided. Early learnings from training collaboration and insights on next steps will be discussed.
- Participants will be able to define the roles for a newborn hearing screening provider.
- Participants will describe the training necessary to provide adequate newborn hearing screenings.
- Participants will be able to discuss initial learnings from collaboration and the initial training program offered in DE
Presentation:
3545975_18059ShannonFrancese.pdf
Handouts:
Handout is not Available
Transcripts:
CART transcripts are NOT YET available, but will be posted shortly after the conference
Presenters/Authors
Shannon Francese
(Primary Presenter), Nemours Children's Health, Delaware, shannon.francese@nemours.org;
Shannon Francese, BS is currently the Audiology Patient Access Supervisor at Nemours Children’s Health Delaware. Before this appointment, she was lead newborn hearing screener and audiology assistant in Audiology at Nemours Children’s Health Delaware since 2008. Her interests focus on quality of patient care and satisfaction from birth to 21 years of age. She is focused on improving interactions with multiple teams within the organization and state to improve the newborn screening programs. Shannon holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology and is working towards her master's degree in health care administration.
ASHA DISCLOSURE:
Financial -
• Receives Grants for Teaching and speaking,Consulting from State of Delaware.
Nonfinancial -
No relevant nonfinancial relationship exists.
AAA DISCLOSURE:
Financial -
Financial relationship with State of Delaware.
Nature: Grant for training services.
Nonfinancial -
No relevant nonfinancial relationship exists.
Yell Inverso
(Author,Co-Author), Nemours Children's Health, yell.inverso@nemours.org;
Yell Inverso, AuD., PhD, is a certified and licensed pediatric audiologist. She received her Doctor of Audiology (Au.D.) degree and later her Doctorate of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Hearing Science from Gallaudet University in Washington, DC. Dr. Inverso’s clinical and research interests include cochlear implantation, pediatric test development, and evidence-based pediatric diagnostic evaluation. In addition to her work Nemours as the Audiology Manager, Dr. Inverso holds adjunct faculty appointments at Salus University and the School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania.
ASHA DISCLOSURE:
Financial -
Nonfinancial -
AAA DISCLOSURE:
Financial -
Nonfinancial -
Melissa Stone Mengistu
(Co-Author), Nemours Children's Health, melissa.stonemengistu@nemours.org;
Melissa Stone Mengistu, MSEd, CCC-SLP is currently the Outcomes and Outreach Coordinator of the Pediatric Communication Center at Nemours Children’s Health, Delaware. Prior to this appointment she was working as a Lead Speech pathologist in the Outpatient Therapy Department of Nemours Children’s Health, Delaware since 2010. Her clinical interests focus on hearing loss, auditory processing deficits, literacy, and feeding disorders. Melissa has worked in several different settings, including the Melmark School in Berwyn, PA as a Speech pathologist. Speaking From the Heart Early Intervention with Chester County, PA as a Speech Pathologist. Theraplay in West Chester, PA as a speech Pathologist. Melissa holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Communicative Disorders and Sciences and a Master of Science and Education degree in Speech Pathology with a Teaching Certification in New York and Pennsylvania. She is actively involved in the American Speech-language-Hearing Association and currently sits as a board member of the Delaware Early Hearing Detection and Intervention (EHDI) Advisory Board.
ASHA DISCLOSURE:
Financial -
Nonfinancial -
AAA DISCLOSURE:
Financial -
Nonfinancial -